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Harlingen CISD

TRE

TRE

TRE Stories  TRE Projects: September 2017 Updates 


2015 Tax Ratification Election (TRE) 

As our school district continues to experience growth in enrollment and improvement in academic achievement, Harlingen CISD must position itself to remain the district of choice with world-class facilities. In the spring of 2014, our district adopted the strategic plan, which included participation of over 800 school community members, as a course of action for our district for the next five years. As we approach our second year of implementation, we now extend our opportunity to strategically plan for HCISD’s future financial needs. 

In response, voters will have the opportunity on September 12 to vote on a Tax Ratification Election or TRE, which was approved by the Harlingen CISD Board of Trustees during their regular board meeting held on July 14, 2015.

  • If passed, the TRE would generate approximately $5.8 million in state funds and another $4.2 million in local funds, bringing the annual total to $10 million. These additional funds would allow the district to address facility needs through replacements and upgrades without incurring debt.

    • All campuses will be impacted by upgrades, which will include:
    • New security systems at elementary campuses
    • Upgrades to existing security and public announcement systems
    • Two playgrounds for special needs students
    • Modernization of classrooms to align with strategic plan (i.e. furniture, digital learning tools and other instructional resources)
    • Technology infrastructure upgrades
    • Band/music instrument replacement plan
    • Upgrades to facility parking lots, heating/cooling systems (HVAC), lighting and roofing
    • Upgrades to multi-purpose buildings/gyms at elementary campuses
    • Additional classroom wings at Rodriguez/ Bonham/ Treasure Hills
    • Career and Technology classroom upgrades to industry standards
    • Early College HS facility upgrades
    • Upgrades to elementary playgrounds and replacement of outside water fountains
    • Upgrades to Varsity Baseball/Softball field restrooms, parking lots and bleachers
    • Treasure Hills structural roof repairs
    • Gutierrez, Coakley, Vela, HHS and HHSS JV Stadium track upgrades
    • Coakley outdoor restroom construction to align with district standards
    • HHSS and Vernon gym floor replacement and bleacher upgrades 
  • Dear HCISD Family,

    Our school district continues to experience growth in enrollment and academic achievement. For that reason, Harlingen CISD must position itself to remain the district of choice with world-class facilities. Our district adopted the strategic plan, Transforming Learning for Global Achievement, in the spring of 2014, which included the participation of over 800 school community members and set the course of action for our district for the next five years. As we approach our second year of implementation and have recently refinanced our bonds successfully, we now extend our opportunity to strategically plan for HCISD’s future financial needs.

    In response, voters will have the opportunity on September 12, 2015 to vote in a Tax Ratification Election or TRE, which was approved by the Harlingen CISD Board of Trustees during their regular board meeting held on July 14th. Voter approval of the TRE will generate approximately $5.8 million in state funds and another $4.2 million in local funds, bringing the total to $10 million annually to address replacements and upgrades at our campuses and facilities.

    A TRE is a proactive approach that, with voter approval, will allow Harlingen CISD to access the maximum amount of state funds.  If the TRE passes, the District will be able to focus the additional funding on replacement and upgrades of our facilities and equipment without incurring long-term debt. We have identified many areas of need across our district, and expect that the additional funding that would result from the passage of the TRE will have a positive district-wide impact.

    At Harlingen CISD we are fortunate to have board members, staff, and community members actively involved in all of our efforts to position HCISD favorably in its mission to provide educational excellence. We view the upcoming TRE as an opportunity for our school community to give us their input, by voting for or against the tax rate adopted by the Board.  From August 26th to September 8th our community will have the opportunity to participate in the early voting process, and regular Election Day voting will take place on September 12th.

    Additional presentations and times are forthcoming. For a complete list of needs, impact to homeowners, and for more information, please see the TRE page.

    On behalf of HCISD, I thank you for your continued support in creating a world-class system for our students and I encourage you to go out and vote!

    Respectfully,

    Art Cavazos, Ed.D.
    HCISD Superintendent of Schools

  • Graphic announcing the results of a Tax Ratification Election (TRE) for Harlingen Public Schools.
     

     

    Early Votes Cast

    Polling Place Bonham

    Polling Place Bowie

    Polling Place Crockett

    Polling Place Dishman 

    Polling Place Long

    Polling Place Milam

    Polling Place Stuart

    Polling Place Treasure Hills 

    Polling Place Wilson

    Polling Place Zavala

    Total Election Day

    Total Votes 

     For

     

    918

    32 

    41

    10 

    4

    61

    8

    72

    76

    34

    22 

    362

    1280

    Against

     

    441

    42

    39

    12

    25

    112

    9

    159

    179

    80

    37

    694

    1135

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Total

    Votes 

    1359

    74 

     80

     22

    31

    173

     17

    231

    255

    114

    59 

    1056

    2415

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Percent For

     67%

    43%

    51%

    46%

    19%

     35%

    47%

    31%

    30%

    30%

     37%

    34%

    53%

    Percent

    Against 

    33%

    57%

    49%

    55%

    81%

    65%

    53%

    69%

    70%

    70%

    67% 

    66% 

    47% 

  • POLLING PLACES

     SCHOOL ELECTION  PRECINCTS

     Bonham Elementary

     2400 East Jefferson 

     31,32

     Bowie Elementary

     309 West Lincoln 

     41,103,104

     Crockett Elementary

     1406 West Jefferson 

     39

     Dishman Elementary

     309 Madeley Avenue 

     Parts of 57, 87

     Long Elementary

     2601 North 7th 

     56,84,78

     Parts 57,87 

     Ben Milam Elementary

     1215 Rangerville Road 

     43

     Parts of 36

     Stuart Place Elementary

     6701 Business 83 

     26,29,58,85

     Parts of 28, 36, 64,80 

     Treasure Hills Elementary

     2525 Haine Drive 

     30, 34, 44, 79

     Wilson Elementary

     16495 Primera Road 

     27,

     Parts of 28, 64, 80 

     Zavala Elementary

     1111 North B 

     33, 35, 42

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A TRE is an opportunity for voters to approve or disapprove the tax rate adopted by the Board of Trustees, and if passed, will allow Harlingen CISD to access the maximum amount of state funds to focus on replacement and upgrades of our facilities and equipment without incurring long-term debt.

    According to Texas Law, school districts are required to hold an election for voters to approve an adopted tax rate that exceeds the rollback rate, or which increases the Maintenance and Operations or M&O component of the total tax rate.

    The proposed tax rate adjustment is an increase to the M&O and a decrease to the Interest and Sinking or I&S component of the total tax rate. M&O funds the maintenance and operations of schools, and I&S pays for any bond debt that may have been issued to fund the construction of schools and facilities.

    The TRE will allow the voters of Harlingen to give the district their input on the tax rates that fund their schools. Twenty-two school districts in the region have already approved a TRE and have been accessing these additional state funds as early as 2006.

  • In May, the district saved over 8 million dollars by refinancing a portion of their long-term school bonds, which resulted in an estimated decrease of 3 cents in the I&S fund. In return, the district has an opportunity to reallocate these savings to the M&O through a TRE. If the TRE passes, the District will leverage these recent savings and receive much-needed additional funds which the District will dedicate to improvements on each campus based on the areas of greatest need.

    Voter approval of the TRE will generate approximately 5.8 million dollars in state funds and another 4.2 million dollars in local funds, bringing the total to ten million dollars annually to address replacements and upgrades at HCISD campuses.