Voters Reject Round Rock ISD $572M Bond Referendum, Craig Morgan Clinches Mayor's Seat

ROUND ROCK, TX — Voters rejected a $572 million bond package that Round Rock ISD officials had aggressively promoted as necessary to meet an ambitious set of goals but organized tax watchdogs saw as too extravagant.

The multimillion-dollar referendum was broken up in three separate propositions, each rejected by more than half the electorate.

• Proposition 1 ($381.7 million) called for construction of a sixth high school, its 35th elementary school and assorted improvements and enhancement to aging structures. The measure was defeated, with 52 percent of registered voters casting ballots against the measure.
• Proposition 2 ($133.6 million) would have funded a career tech high school and expanded various schools, but it failed with 53 percent opposition.
• Proposition 3 ($56.8 million)called for an indoor aquatics center, athletics venues and arts facilities, but it got the thumbs down by 57 percent of those voting.

Voter turnout for the historic bond referendum was rather anemic, with some 10.5 percent of registered voters showing up at the polls to cast ballots.

Superintendent of Schools for Round Rock ISD Steve Flores issue a statement posted on the district's website in reaction to the bond referendum's defeat.

“We are fortunate to have the best teachers and educators in the state of Texas and in the nation at Round Rock ISD,” he said. “We will continue to serve kids and provide a world class service for our families. I am confident we can continue to be the destination district for public schools.”

District officials said trustees will address how to go about needed district-wide improvements and expansion without the bond issue for which they had hoped. In terms of campus expansion, issuance of debt would have provided construction funds to ease overcrowding, officials said.

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"Round Rock ISD will need to address funding and strategies for capital renewal projects, replacing outdated technology, and to accommodate crowded schools," the statement read. "Those next steps will be discussed at a future Board of Trustees meeting. The Board will adopt its budget for the 2017-18 school year in June. It will set its tax rate in September."

Former Austin City Council member Don Zimmerman, who was ousted by voters for his seat on council in the November elections, was arguably the most visible critic of the bonds measure. A fiscal conservative known for opposing what he views as excessive spending, Zimmerman had argued the cost of the bonds would translate into a higher figure per household than the average $26,75 district officials contended but without specifying an alternative amount he saw as more accurate or a basis or his claim.

Yet the tactic proved effective helping to galvanize his Travis County Taxpayers Union group of bond opponents as well as energizing fellow fiscal conservatives.

Round Rock ISD officials had based likely increases to property owners on an average home value of $290,000, for a per-household increase of $2.23 per month or $26.74 per year.

In other Round Rock elections:

• Craig Morgan, a member of the Round Rock City Council since 2011, won the mayoral post with 52 percent of the vote while Hilda Montgomery secured 43 percent and Josh Couture came in third with just 8 percent.
• In the race for the Place 1 seat, Tammy Young emerged the victor with just more than half the vote by a thin margin, 50.2 percent. But that razor's edge was enough to secure the majority of the vote without the need for a future runoff. Challengers Hollis Bone got 42 percent while Matthew Carothers secured 8 percent.
• In Place 4, incumbent Will Peckham secured 51 percent of the vote, besting political rival Tracie Storie.

• A measure amending the Round Rock city charter presented in four separate propositions gained voter approval. The revisions to the charter include clarification of some language related to elected officials and city staff members; allowing council appointments to fill vacated seats; raising council candidate filing fees from $50 to $250; and allowing council members to authorize city employees (other than the city manager) to execute contracts or make expenditure decisions.

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