A school bond is similar to a mortgage on a home. The school district is asking its voters to be able to borrow a specific amount of money, in this case, up to $6.2 billion dollars. If we voters approve the bond, the district will then begin to sell tax-free municipal bonds as needed to finance the construction of approved projects. Districts repay the bonds through revenue generated from property taxes collected by the district. In this case, it is estimated that the district will be able to pay off the debt without increase the school tax rate.

Bond dollars can only be put towards capital projects - the construction and renovation of school facilities - transportation, technology, equipment, and land acquisition. Bond dollars cannot be used for teacher and staff salaries.

By authorizing a $6.2 billion bond, Dallas ISD can address the most pressing needs and maintain positive learning environments for all our students. 

The bond proposal came from the recommendation of the Community Bond Steering Committee  (parents, staff, community members, and business leaders). Bond 2026 targets districtwide needs in construction, facilities, safety & security, transportation, fine arts, athletics, technology, and instructional programs. The group met frequently to study facility, equipment and infrastructure needs side by side with enrollment projections, financial data, community survey results and other data. They measured all this with the intent in creating and maintaining learning environments that align with the Dallas ISD mission, vision and goals. All this helped form the final bond proposal that the committee recommended to the RISD Board of Trustees.

Approval of Bond 2026 is anticipated to result in an approximately $0.01 I&S (Interest & Sinking) tax rate increase based on current projections. For a home with an average market value of $525,000 in Dalas ISD, this could potentially result in an estimated annual increase of $33.48, or about $2.79 per month.  That’s less than most cups of coffee!

If taxable property growth exceeds projections or if interest rates are less than projected, the tax impact could be lower.  And even with this investment, Dallas ISD maintains the LOWEST total tax rate among the 10 largest DFW school districts.

Homeowners 65 or older are not impacted by a tax increase because they qualify to have their property tax levy frozen when they turn 65. The frozen tax levy does not stay in place if a homeowner makes a substantial improvement to their home.

Dallas’ last bond election was 6 years ago in 2020.  The Dallas ISD community has passed every school bond referendum since the first one the school district put on the ballot in 1951. The school district has operated on a five-year bond cycle since 1996.

If the bond doesn’t pass the district will have to fund most capital expenditures through emergency withdrawals from operating funds. That could result in budget cuts and/or a property tax increase due to the elimination of the local, optional homestead exemption.

Delay now, pay more later. By pushing off critical maintenance issues with this bond, repair costs will only escalate. The longer voters wait, the steeper the bill when these fixes become unavoidable.

Election Day is Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Early voting takes place:

• Monday, April 20-Friday, April 24 from 8 a.m-5 p.m.

• Saturday, April 25 from 7 a.m-7 p.m.

• Sunday, April 26 between 12 noon and 7 p.m.

• Monday, April 27 and Tuesday, April 28 between 7 a.m.-7p.m.

Go here for list of voting locations.

Find more information at http://www.dallascountyvotes.org/