Northwest ISD asks voters to approve nearly $2 billion bond package

FORT WORTH, TX (CBSDFW.COM) — Northwest ISD is asking voters to approve a nearly $2 billion bond package to help plan for the future of the fast-growing county.

This becomes apparent as you look around the area as new buildings are popping up all over the place.

“We grew by an average of 1,000 students a year, but there were some anomalies. We grew by over 2,000 students last year,” said Northwest ISD leader Mark Faust.

A sharp surge in registration:

• 2003: 6,177 students.
• 2008: 11,824 students
• 2013: 17,752 students
• 2018: 23,061 students
• 2023: 29,248 students

“This rapid growth is unprecedented, we are considered the fastest growing county in North Texas and because of this we have facility needs and want to build facilities to cater to the growing student population,” Faust said.

The area extends over 234 square miles in Tarrant, Denton, and Wise counties.

Here’s what’s in those proposals that people can vote for separately.

• Proposal A: New facilities including 12 new schools (2 of which will be replaced by schools), major renovations and transportation with new buses, valued at $1,672,193,000.
• Proposal B: Home stadiums at 3 high schools and field renovations at Texan Field at a cost of $301,555,000.
• Offer C: Technology devices for students and teachers for $21,752,000.

The total cost of all three proposals is $1,995,500,000.

“This bond program is for the future, it is not designed to meet all of our immediate needs. We meet these needs at the same time as the previous bonds that were transferred. This is planning for the next 8,400 students,” Faust said.

The county stated that the bond program would be paid for by a $0.001 tax increase. For the average $450,000 home, this would mean an additional $4.10-$4.15 in tax increases per year.

“The reason this is such a small tax increase for the average homeowner in our area is because the rise in property values ​​in our 234 square miles is quite significant,” Faust added.

This bond offer was created based on the recommendations of a group of citizens called the Long Term Planning Committee. They submitted the bond proposal to the NISD Board of Trustees, which voted on Monday to put it to a vote.

This nearly $2 billion bond package will be given to voters on May 6th.

For more information on what is contained in the Bond Offer, click here.