A $436,109,000 three-proposition Ector County ISD bond and 14 state Constitutional Amendments are on the ballot for the Nov. 7 election.
Early voting ends today at 7 p.m. and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Voters can cast ballots for one, two or three of the bond propositions. It will not affect the district’s tax rate.
Since 2020, ECISD has made early payments of about $37.3 million dollars on existing bonds, and by prepayments and refinancing, saved taxpayers $26.9 million in future interest payments. Based upon the district’s existing tax base, the district will not need to increase the total tax rate of $1.014 to pay the $436,109,000 of bond projects.
The ballot language will say that it is a tax increase as that is required by a 2019 state law affecting all bond referendums.
Citizens for Responsible Government has mailed out post cards opposing the bond, but other than that, Superintendent Scott Muri said he hasn’t seen any organized opposition.
Muri said they’ve probably done about 100 bond presentations in the district and community, plus a Basin PBS town hall, broadcasts on social media, social media posts and TV commercials.
There will be an ECISD Board of Trustees meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The polls close at 7 p.m. Muri said it would be abbreviated so they can keep tabs on the results.
Proposition A for $424,263,000 includes a new career and technical education center to be located in south Odessa; a new middle school in West Odessa; districtwide maintenance and repairs; a new transportation facility and bus purchases.
Also, replacement of the district’s phone system; PA/bell/clock/fire alarm system replacements; a security camera refresh; classroom interactive flat panels; and large group instruction area audio/visual equipment.
It also includes a complete renovation of the Permian High School Auditorium; replacing outdated instruments; performance risers for all middle school choirs; classroom instruments for elementary campuses; uniforms for middle school bands and mariachi; JROTC facility needs; a complete replacement of the Transition Learning Center for students with special needs learning to transition from school to the workforce; and complete replacement of classroom buildings at barns at the Agriculture Farm.
Also, LED lighting at the Odessa High School baseball and tennis stadiums; LED lighting at the Permian High School baseball stadium; resurfacing of tennis stadiums at all middle schools; and replacement of indoor bleachers in main gyms of all middle schools; purchasing land for the new land purchase for new CTE Center and new middle school.
Proposition B for $8,096,000 includes a concrete overlay of bleachers; updating restrooms; LED lighting for the stadium parking lot; LED lighting at track/field event venue; air conditioning/heating for the south building locker rooms; replacing one grass field with artificial turf; also includes any major maintenance needs at the stadium complex identified in Facilities Assessment report.
Proposition C for $3,750,000 includes a new indoor practice facility for Odessa High School; and new artificial turf for the existing indoor practice facility at Permian High School. According to the law, these indoor practice facilities must be separate bond proposals for voters to consider.
