Longview ISD Bond Information

Voting Info

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ELECTION

All registered voters living within Longview ISD boundaries are eligible to vote in this election. If you are not registered yet, or need to update your registration, you have until October 10 to do that. Head to GreggCountyVotes.com or VoteTexas.gov to register.

Early Voting begins Monday, October 23, 2023 and ends Friday, November 3, 2023. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023. If you need to request an absentee or mail-in ballot, you can do so on the Gregg County Elections site using the link below.This site also lists instructions and criteria you must meet in order to apply for a mail-in ballot. The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot for the November election is Friday, October 27, 2023. GreggCountyVotes.com/vote-by-mail

GREGG COUNTY PARTICIPATES IN THE COUNTY-WIDE POLLING PLACE PROGRAM. Any Gregg County Registered Voter may vote at any site we have open.

ELECTION DAY IS 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. NOV. 7, 2023

Name of Building	Street Address
Longview Community Center	500 E Whaley St, Longview 75601
Alpine Presbyterian Church	4102 Tryon Rd, Longview 75605
Judson Community Center	1129 FM 1844, Longview 75605
Pine Tree Community Center	1701 Pine Tree Rd, Longview 75604
Greggton Community Center	3211 W Marshall Ave, Longview 75604
Jim Nall Training Center	100 W Church St, White Oak 75693
Sabine ISD	5219 Old Highway 135 N, Liberty City
Meadowbrook Country Club	1306 Houston St, Kilgore 75662
Elderville Community Center	10450 Hwy 349, Longview 75603
Stamper Park Resource Center	502 S Center St, Longview 75601
Broughton Recreation Center	801 S MLK Jr Blvd, Longview 75602

EARLY VOTING - OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 3

MAIN EARLY VOTING LOCATION
Gregg County Courthouse - 101 E Methvin St, Rm 112, Longview, TX 75601
WK 1: Mon, Oct 23 – Fri, Oct 27 8 AM to 6 PM
WK 2: Mon, Oct 30 - Wed, Nov 1 8 AM to 6 PM
Thur, Nov 2 – Fri, Nov 3 7 AM to 7 PM

BRANCH EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS
Pine Tree ISD Community Center – 1701 Pine Tree Rd, Longview, TX 75604
Longview ISD Education Support Center – 1301 E Young St, Longview, TX 75602
City of Lakeport - City Hall - 207 Milam St, Longview, TX 75603
WK 1: Mon, Oct 23 – Fri, Oct 27 8 AM to 6 PM
WK 2: Mon, Oct 30 – Fri, Nov 3 8 AM to 6 PM

Site Plans

These illustrative site plans are conceptual in nature and are subject to change. We are providing them here to offer a helpful glimpse into the exciting possibilities for our schools' future development.

All plans for construction and/or renovation are contingent upon the successful passage of the bonds and approval from the Longview ISD board of trustees.

Your support and input are vital in shaping our schools, so please explore these conceptual site plans and stay engaged in the process.

Together, we can create a brighter future for our students and community!

CLICK TO SEE FULL SIZE

Facts & Figures

CLICK HERE to see a detailed breakdown of each project.

Bond info in the news...

State Rep. Jay Dean, R-Longview [...] recalled how people balked about the size of the 2008 bond, which was narrowly approved.
“The investment paid off,” he said, and now, when people come to Longview from all over the state they remark about how nice Longview ISD campuses are. Those campuses lured additional development around them, he said, helping to increase sales tax revenues.
LISD school officials wouldn’t ask voters to make a decision to invest in schools “without thinking there’s a good return,” Dean said.

Stakeholders hear Longview ISD bond presentation at community meeting (Longview News-Journal)

"Our numbers may not have had a drastic increase, but our programs have had a drastic increase."
  "Our Legislature and TEA are begging for us to have programs like this. The more you offer, the better programs you have, the more money they're going to give you."
  "Not everybody is going to go to A&M... We have to make all our kids are not just college ready, not just career ready, not just military read, but success ready."
  "We have things that are in the ground that are beginning to get old and to give up on us."
  "Most of us, if we have a house that was this old, we would say it's time to update."

Longview ISD highlights needs at high school as part of bond election (Longview News-Journal)

In response to the false claim that Longview ISD is "the most in-debt school district in the state," Dr. Wayne Guidry explained that "we’re not even the highest in East Texas.”
"Best practice is for the ratio of debt-to-assessed value be less than 10 percent, Longview ISD’s current ratio is 2.3 percent. If both bond proposals pass, that could grow to 8 percent."

Stakeholders hear Longview ISD bond presentation at community meeting (Longview News-Journal)

A small storage closet that contains cleaning products and other items for the buses also is part of the building. More storage is in what is the current main transportation office at the front of the property.
The space, said Mr. Darryl Dans, LISD Transportation Coordinator, is too small for everyone to meet if they need to. That means they have to reserve a space elsewhere at the district’s administrative offices. Those meetings have to be scheduled in advance and involve getting all the necessary supplies for the meeting and all the drivers to a different location.

Longview ISD bus barn would be replaced through bond election (Longview News-Journal)

In 2008, Longview ISD voters approved a bond proposal that saw the district replace most of the campuses in the district with new facilities, including all the elementary schools and middle schools.
Now, district officials say, it's time to begin replacing heating, air conditioning, and ventilation units installed at that time because the equipment at those once brand-new campuses is reaching the end of its life span.
"Those units are almost 13 years old now," said Mr. Mike Gipson, head of the district's maintenance department. The industry standard is that those units have a 13-15 year life cycle, he said. "Efficiency is such a big issue nowadays. Every time you can upgrade, they become more efficient because of the way they're building units now."

HVAC replacements for campuses built following 2008 election (Longview News-Journal)

The new center would alleviate waiting lists for the Early Head Start and Head Start programs, which benefit low-income families with tuition paid for by a federal grant distributed through the Region 7 Education Service Center. The programs provide access to child care, early learning programs and other services for eligible families.
Wayne Guidry, the district’s assistant superintendent for finance, pointed to the District’s A rating, International Baccalaureate and other programs at the high school as examples of the district's success.
The Early Head Start and Head Start programs are “probably the most important thing this district does to reach kids that are growing up in poverty at an early age,” he said.

Longview ISD seeks new early childhood center as part of bond (Longview News-Journal)

Frequently Asked Questions

Could you provide a detailed breakdown of all the projects that would be covered?

Yes, please CLICK HERE to see a detailed breakdown of each project.

But what about the Aquatics Center?

Estimated renovation cost of the facility is $3,478,000. As of August 2023, Longview ISD has funds from the general operating budget set aside to address needs at the LHS swimming facility, but if Prop A and B are not approved by voters, those funds are subject to reallocation for high-priority needs that are proposed in the bond.

What is a bond?

A bond is similar to a home mortgage. It is a contract to repay borrowed money with interest over time. Bonds are sold by a school district to competing lenders to raise funds to pay for the costs of construction, renovations and equipment. Most school districts in Texas utilize bonds to finance renovations and new facilities.

How can bonds fund be used?

Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing facilities, athletic structures, land acquisition, technology infrastructure and equipment for new or existing buildings. Bonds cannot be used for salaries or operating costs such as utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel and insurance.

What is Longview ISD’s tax rate?

A school district tax rate is made up of two different tax rates. The first is Maintenance & Operations (M&O) which covers the day-to-day costs of running a school district with most going towards salaries and utilities. The second is Interest & Sinking (I&S) which is solely used for paying down debt. Together, those two rates make up the total rate. Longview ISD has decreased the tax rate by 37 cents over the past 6 years resulting in a current total tax rate of $1.1422 as of Aug. 14, 2023.

What about my property values?

Longview ISD does not set your property values, the Gregg County Appraiser determines that. LISD can only set the school district tax rate and must seek voter approval to increase it.

Also on your ballot in November, voters will likely see the largest tax relief bill go to a vote. The state is proposing increasing the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 which would save the average property owner roughly between $900 and $1,200 on their annual tax bill.

What is Longview ISD’s financial standing?

This past year Longview ISD received a perfect score on their Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST). Longview ISD has a long history of receiving Exemplary ratings in the FIRST system. Over the past 15 years the district has taken advantage of historically low interest rates through refinancing and saved taxpayers millions of dollars. The district has also bought down our debt payments with this earned interest.

LISD also has a debt-to-assessed value ratio of 2.3 percent, which is one of the lowest among surrounding school districts.

What if I’m 65-years old or older and receive the “senior citizen exemption” and my home values go up? Would my school taxes go up?

For residents 65-years and older, their school district tax bill will not increase, even if their property values increase (excluding major property improvements) as long as an approved Homestead and Over-65 Exemption application is on file with the Gregg County Appraisal District, and the property has been owned as of Jan. 1 of the tax year.

Is there any other way to pay for these kinds of projects?

Planning for the district’s current and future needs is one of the fundamental duties of school boards and district administrators. As such, there is a constant evaluation of facilities and other needs in light of the age of district-owned structures, changes in technology, and even changes in instruction. When the district determines that it has needs beyond the capacity of the maintenance and operations budget, the Board of Trustees may issue a bond. The maintenance and operations budget covers the day-to-day expenses of the district, where over 80 percent is directed toward staff salaries and benefits.

The Texas Education Agency in the Financial Integrity Ratings System of Texas (Schools FIRST Rating) sets the guidelines for school districts to have three months of operating expenditures in fund balance. Maintaining the required fund balance as well as the operational needs of the district (with limited state funding) may restrict districts from building adequate savings to fund facilities and infrastructure needs to accommodate construction costs of building a new facility or repairing and renovating an older one.

Can you explain the difference in value between the 62 acres of land the district acquired in 2022 and its recent appraisal?

Longview ISD purchased the property last year for $5.4 million. Earlier this year it was appraised by a local firm at a value of $6.1 million, and is expected to increase in value. The board and administration of Longview ISD believe that land purchase was an exciting investment for our stakeholders. The 62-acre property is strategically located in a rapidly developing part of Longview. As our city expands northward, this land's value has naturally increased. We expect the value to continue to increase, especially with the planned development in that area.

According to officials from the Gregg County Appraisal District, the difference between the appraised value and what the property was purchased for is a common occurrence for unique properties, especially raw commercial land. Their approach to property appraisal involves considering groups of similar properties rather than individual assessments. In this case, finding comparable sales data is a bit challenging, especially since Texas does not mandate property sale disclosures.

Where can I find more info about voting?