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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.
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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
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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 -
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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%
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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
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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.