The Business Case FOR Allen ISD’s 2024 Bond Proposal

At its September board meeting, the Allen Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors unanimously voted in favor of a resolution to endorse and support Allen ISD’s November bond proposal. Here’s what business leaders need to know about before heading to the polls.

What?  Allen ISD is proposing a bond package that will be broken out into three parts on this November’s general election ballot. The three propositions will come out to a total of $447.5 million, with the intent “to create modern, safe facilities that provide a consistent student experience.” Here is a quick overview of each proposition:

Proposition A, $419 million

Prop A contains most of the dollars for the total bond proposal. It includes campus improvements, safety and security upgrades, and capital improvements across several campuses as well as the Allen ISD Activity Complex. It would also fund the construction of a modern multi-purpose complex at Allen High School. Prop A also includes: (1) Safety and security features such as additional cameras, reconfiguration of campus entrances for visitors, replacing fire suppression equipment, and upgrading intruder alert and life safety systems, and (2) Transportation upgrades such as replacing buses that will soon reach the end of their useful lifespan and additional bus maintenance and safety capacity.

Proposition B, $5.4 million

The smallest portion of the bond from a cost standpoint, Prop B would replace track surfaces at multiple Allen ISD campuses and resurface campus tennis courts with added capability for pickleball (to be opened for community use).

Proposition C, $23.1 million

The final portion of the bond includes technology upgrades for classrooms and students, such as: (1) Wi-Fi network improvement to increase speed, security, and reliability, and (2) Updating student devices as part of the Empower 1:1 Program.

These are just brief overviews of each portion of the proposed bond. For a more in-depth look, visit the Allen ISD Bond Website.

Why?  The proposed bond is designed to modernize learning environments, improve safety, and offer valuable community resources, ensuring that students and staff have access to updated, secure, and technology-rich facilities. Strong schools are key to a thriving local economy. This bond will help prepare students for future workforce needs, ensuring a pipeline of skilled talent for local businesses. High-quality schools attract new businesses and employees to the area, boosting economic growth and enhancing the entire community.

Allen ISD has a strong track record of delivering results without raising tax rates. The district’s current tax rate of $1.1258 is the lowest since 1993 and has not increased in more than a decade. The 2020 Allen ISD bond projects were on time and on budget, without a property tax rate increase.

Allen ISD will be able to deliver the proposed bond without increasing the district’s property tax rate. Voters will notice state-mandated language on their ballot when voting on Propositions A, B, and C that says: “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE”. While this language is required to appear on the ballot regardless, Allen ISD can fund all projects in the 2024 bond proposal using the existing tax rate.

Where and When?  Early voting for the November election begins on Monday, October 21 and continues through Friday, November 1. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. Early voting locations and Election Day voting locations plus hours of operation can be found HERE.

FacebookTwitter