In a media call that was mainly focused on Ector County ISD’s $436,109,000 bond issue coming to a vote Nov. 7, Superintendent Scott Muri reminded everyone to register and turn out to cast ballots.
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 10. If you are a resident of Ector County, are eligible to vote and have not yet registered, you need to do so on or before Oct. 10.
Muri said you may visit the Ector County Elections Office in person or go online to the Elections Office website.
He added that there also is guidance on the ECISD website, ectorcountyisd.org.
Early voting starts Oct. 23 and runs through Nov. 3. Election Day is Nov. 7.
“ECISD does encourage you to vote. … It is an important opportunity that each of us has as citizens of this country to take advantage of this opportunity to vote and so we encourage you do that … this voting season,” Muri said.
The ECISD bond has three propositions, A, B and C. You don’t have to vote for all of them or any of them.
The bond will cover new facilities, existing facilities, renovations, long-term maintenance and a variety of other opportunities.
“All of that information can be found on the ECISD website,” Muri said.
Proposition B is a little more than $8 million in value, Muri said.
“The primary component is a concrete overlay that will cover the Ratliff Stadium complex itself. Our stadium is over 40 years of age and is beginning to show its age as the concrete is beginning to crack. As that happens, we need to make sure that we maintain it carefully, so this bond opportunity will provide the ability for ECISD to do just that,” he added.
The concrete overlay will go on both sides of that stadium to ensure it will last at least another 40 years.
“In addition to that, we will be renovating for the very first time the restroom facilities on both the visitor and the home sides of the Ratliff Stadium complex and also adding some lights, primarily to the parking lots, as well as the track and field facility at Ratliff Stadium,” Muri said.
The bond won’t impact the ECISD tax rate of $1.014 per $100 valuation.
Last year’s total tax rate was $1.17 per $100 valuation.
A state law passed in 2019 requires that ballot language include in a final sentence that says “this is a tax increase.” Muri said this is true for any type of bond issue.
“We are educating our voters in that piece, because again, it is required by law that every single ballot that is associated with a bond — whether it’s a school bond or any other type of bond — requires that language in the ballot,” he said.
People 65 and older will see zero tax impact. The only things that would change that is if you have added to or renovated your home or there is a change in state law, but that has not happened.
Muri said that has been the law for many years and the message has been communicated year after year.
“We will continue to talk about that. It’s important that our over 65 crowd has that information,” he added.
The bond package has been designed to be a five-year cycle.
“When we look at all of the items in the bond (it will take) approximately five years to complete those items. We have a priority list of which are the most important to finish first. Some of the maintenance items are scheduled in years three, four and five,” Muri said.
He added that the bond progress will be continuously updated on the district website.
In their information sessions, they have had a lot of feedback. Many of the questions are specific to the individual — how the bond would affect a specific school or program like special education.
“We answer those types of questions as well … in fact we are keeping a running list and providing a frequently asked question list. You’ll find that on the website, again, ectorcountyisd.org. If you click on the Bond 2023 link, it will take you to our frequently asked questions so you can read some of those questions” and answers, Muri said.
“As we receive them, we vet them for answers and then we post those on that particular website,” he added.
On a separate note, Muri noted that the annual Permian-OHS gridiron contest is Friday night. Some 20,000 fans are expected. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
Bands, cheerleaders, dancers and football players will also converge.
“We expect a sellout crowd, so if you haven’t picked up your ticket you need to do so as soon as you possibly can,” Muri said.
A traffic pattern has been set up.
“It is important that we adhere to not only our stadium policies for entrance, but also traffic patterns which will make all of our lives as we enter and exit the stadium a little bit more exciting this year,” Muri said.
