(Marion) — As voters head to the polls today, Marion ISD Superintendent Dr. Don Beck is making one final push to encourage residents to vote in support of the district’s proposed $60 million bond issue.
Serving 1,709 students, Beck says the Marion ISD has seen enrollment increase in seven of the past 10 years — making it the third fastest-growing district in the Greater San Antonio area. With more than 5,000 new homes projected within the next decade, he says school officials understand the urgency behind Proposition A, the district’s $60 million bond proposal.
Proposition A includes funding for a new elementary school to accommodate projected enrollment growth, new buses to serve expanding routes, and a Technology and Maintenance Facility to support district operations. Additional upgrades include turf replacement, parking lot paving, and other improvements to existing campuses.
Beck says items included in Proposition A were not developed overnight. He says the district’s bond committee spent months evaluating growth projections and facility needs before recommending the proposal to the school board earlier this year.
“Most important thing is to get out and vote. The great thing is so far, we’ve had pretty good early voter turnout based on the numbers. I believe 1,000 individuals have voted and ultimately, we’d love for people to just go out there and vote. Hopefully that trend continues and people will come out and let their voice be heard,” said Beck.
If approved, the bond would carry an estimated tax impact of $13.02 per month for a home valued at $300,000 — the average market value in Marion ISD. Officials note that more than half of the total bond cost would be covered by commercial tax contributions, and that homeowners aged 65 and older or those with disability exemptions would not see an increase due to frozen tax ceilings.
District officials warn that delaying the bond could increase project costs by an estimated $5.5 million per year as construction and material expenses continue to climb statewide.
Since 2019, state law has required all school bond propositions to include the phrase “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE” in ballot language — even if overall tax rates may decrease through exemptions and compression.
Officials say for homeowners 65 and older, the bond, if approved, would not affect their current tax ceiling, provided no major additions or improvements are made to their property.
Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A list of the 38 polling locations can be found on the elections page at Guadalupetx.gov.