Katy ISD stadium bond issue falls

The Nov. 5 bond election in the Katy Independent School District included a 14,000-seat stadium. The Nov. 5 bond election in the Katy Independent School District included a 14,000-seat stadium. Photo: Katy Independent School District Photo: Katy Independent School District Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Katy ISD stadium bond issue falls 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Katy ISD voters turned down the district's request to pay for a new stadium, agriculture facility and science center.

School district officials reported that 54 percent voted against the measure, with a vote of 9,011 against, and 7,458 for the bond issue..

"This defeat shows that this Katy ISD administration and school board have become institutionally arrogant," said George Scott, an education advocate and bond critic. "They lost sight of the fact that people in the community are dedicated to public education but also care about spending money wisely. This was simply the worst structured bond I have seen in my entire professional career."

"My goal was to present a package that didn't raise our taxes and that goal was accomplished," said John Eberlan, who was on the bond committee. "We wanted to produce a bond package that reflected the goals of the entire community."

No tax increase was planned with the $99 million bond issue, which also included $25 million proposition to expand the Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center and a $4.5 million proposition for a science, technology, engineering and math.

The 14,000-seat stadium would have been built just north of the existing Rhodes Stadium, and provide a second venue for varsity football and soccer games.

Students and parents involved in the district's agriculture program pushed for the $25 million agriculture facility to benefit the 3,000 students who participate in the programs. STEM center

The STEM center was to have been built on two acres west of the Miller Career and Technology Center at 1734 Katyland Drive, will support existing programs such as robotics and introduce new projects.

Debate about the stadium and proposed bond debt was intense in the weeks leading up to the bond issue.

Members of the Katy LiberTea, a local anti-tax group that opposed the bond election, said they are concerned about the district's debt, while the school district says that shouldn't be a worry because it's in good financial shape.

Katy ISD spokesman Steve Stanford said before the election that the district has not contemplated a future tax hike.

Stanford said a steady increase in property values has increased revenues without the need to increase taxes for the past seven years.

The debt is directly related to growth, he said, and the district has held bond elections because people are moving to Katy in droves because of the school district.

"Since 1994, the district has grown from 25,500 pupils to more than 66,500 in 2013, adding 20 elementary schools, eight junior highs and four high schools during that time," Stanford said.