LONGVIEW, Texas — After three previously unsuccessful attempts, Longview ISD has passed bonds totaling more than $450 million.
"We are celebrating! We are so happy!" Karen Haas, a Longview ISD mom and volunteer, said.
The bonds will address aging buildings in the district, build a new early childhood center, new athletic complex, new aquatics center, as well as make renovations to Lobo Stadium.
These projects are years away from being complete, but now with funding secured, the district will start making small improvements where it can.
"But also there’s a lot of projects that we will start off early, and that doesn’t mean it’s the top priority. It’s just, that was the low hanging fruit that didn’t take architecture drawings or a construction manager. We’re able to just hop on it real quick because of the nature of it," Wayne Guidry, Longview ISD assistant superintendent of finance, said.
Guidry said that despite the hefty price tag, which made voters hesitant to support bonds in the past, the impact on taxpayers won't be too significant.
"Homes valued at $200,000 we’re looking at $10 a year tax increase or 83 cents a month. That was a message that we tried to expand upon and highlight. Lot of tax elections, bond elections you’re asking for $40 or $50 a year. So we felt that this was a low ask," Guidry said.
Haas has been an integral part of the passage of the bond and said she's excited that voters showed the same type of enthusiasm.
"We are thrilled. We are thrilled that Lobo Nation came out. Saturday was so much fun, we had multiple parties and gatherings and events, trying to draw people out to vote. People showed up honking their horns, waving at us, the drum line was out with us. It has just been a true positive momentous feeling all through the community," Haas said.
She spent the weeks leading up to the election knocking on doors, coming to community events, and doing anything she could to help inform her neighbors about what the Longview bond could do for its students.
"My daughter said it really well. She’s going into ninth grade next year. She feels like the changes will help her educational opportunities and all of her extracurricular opportunities as well," Haas said.