It is encouraging to drive through the neighborhoods around Anderson and Murchison and see so many yard signs in support of the bond program. I hope our neighbors will take our lead and vote YES on all three propositions. Election day is Saturday, May 10. For a list of polling sites, please visit voteyesforaustinschools.org and click on Where do I vote?
Two questions about the bond package have arisen in the past week, so I will take this opportunity to answer them. I think that if someone took the time to email, there may be others of us with the same questions.
1. From a Hill parent:
Previous information said that if the entire bond package was passed, the yearly tax impact would be something like $3,000 additional taxes a year on a typical house. Is that right?
Response:
Approval of bonds always gets down to how much it will cost the homeowner. My information comes from AISD’s 2008 School Bond Election FAQ paper. I’ll quote it directly.
How will this amount ($343.7 million) affect my property taxes?
The District Interest and Sinking (debt retirement) tax rate would increase a maximum of 1.7 cents. For each $100,000 of home value, the tax increase for a homeowner would be $1.41 per month, with a yearly cost of $17 for a home valued at $100,000. For a home valued at $200,000, the yearly cost would be $34 or $2.83 per month.
What is the tax impact on the homeowner 65 or older?
The proposed bond program will have no impact on homeowners who are 65 or older because the amount of property tax that these individuals must pay may never exceed what they paid in the year they turned 65. The amount they pay could be lowered, in fact, should the assessed value of their property fall and/or a reduction in the tax rate result in a lower property tax payment.
So, a $3000 tax increase is probably not going to happen in our area. A $100,000 home could pay $17 more annually. A $600,000 home could pay $102 more.
2. From a Murchison/Anderson parent:
How will the district-wide performing arts center (PAC) be used by our 11 high schools and 18 middle schools?
Response:
A committee to study the need for a district PAC was formed after the passage of the 2004 school bond. It identified three primary purposes for a central PAC, including
1. To provide appropriate facilities for performances that draw bigger crowds than AISD high school facilities currently accommodate, which is around 500 audience members;
2. To host events that are currently not well accommodated, such as regional events or UIL competitions, and which can be disruptive at a high school campus; and
3. To lessen some of the scheduling burden on the high school auditoriums.
This same committee recommended that the district PAC seat approximately 1200 people. The performing arts centers at Round Rock and Hayes were both studied. It was also noted by the committee that other large school districts, including San Antonio, Dallas, and Frisco, were considering construction of central PACs.
Amenities of the proposed AISD central PAC:
Approximately 56,839 sf Larger than both Hays PAC (44,042 sf) & Round Rock PAC (49,826 sf)
Public Spaces Lobby and Student Art Gallery, Concessions Area, Ticket Office, Restrooms
Main Auditorium -1200 fixed seats, large stage with wing space, Orchestra Pit, Fly Space above the stage, Acoustical Shell for auditorium stage, full set of curtains and cyclorama, Catwalks, Custom Light and Sound Systems
Black Box Theater - 250 seats, Control Booth, Seating on chair risers (moveable)
Large Multipurpose Room -100 seats
Support Areas - Dressing Rooms with restrooms, Stage and Scenery Storage, Wardrobe Room
Examples of Uses for a District Performing Arts Center:
Musical Concerts Band, Choir, Orchestra will generate the most events
Multi-Campus Events Examples are festivals, UIL competitions, One Act Play
Big Production Events Musical theater and dance will use the space, needing full stage fly-loft
Theater Arts/Plays Probably will not use the main stage, but would use the black box theater
Other Events For instance, outside rentals, district meetings, training, small graduations
District-wide Events
All-City Band Festival (MS & HS)
All-City Choral Festival (Elementary, MS & HS)
Austin Youth Orchestra Concerts (Elementary, MS & HS)
Dance Spectacular (HS)
Music Memory Contest (Elementary)
Austin Symphony Orchestra Halloween Concerts (Elementary)
Pre-UIL Choir Festival (MS & HS)
Vertical Team Choral Concerts (Elementary, MS & HS)
Vertical Team Instrumental Concerts (Elementary, MS & HS)
Regional Events
HS Theatre One-Act Play
MS Theatre One-Act Play
UIL Band Concert and Sight-reading
UIL Orchestra Concert and Sight-reading
UIL Choir Concert and Sight-reading
River City Band Festival
HS Region 18 Band Concert
MS Region 18 Band Concert
HS Region 18 Choir Concert
MS Region 18 Choir Concert
HS Region 18 Orchestra Concert
MS Region 18 Orchestra Concert
Individual School Events (on a rotating basis)
Fall and Spring MS Choir Concerts
Fall and Spring MS Orchestra Concerts
Fall and Spring MS Band Concerts
Fall and Spring HS Choir Concerts
Fall and Spring HS Orchestra Concerts
Fall and Spring HS Band Concerts
Musical Theatre Productions
Spring Dance Shows
Elementary Music /Theater/Dance programs
***Conservatively, the committee estimated a central AISD PAC would be used at least 170 days at 31 events by 11,455 students with 20,000 audience members in attendance. Elementary, middle, and high school students could all perform in a district Performing Arts Center.
Please remember that your vote is needed to pass all three propositions. Do not depend on your friends or neighbors to vote. The Anderson High School vertical team has a lot to gain in this bond package, including up to 16 classrooms, technology, critical renovations, and more. Please vote!
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