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The proposed bond for a new High School for Gilmer ISD is not a new issue. Since the current school was built in 1950, there have been 5 proposed bonds for a new high
school. There have been many rumors in opposition to this bond and the purpose of this website is to provide FACTS that will help you to determine how you should vote on May 5th.
Keep in mind, this is not a
simple YES or NO question.
To be more accurate, let's call
it an EITHER / OR question.
Even those who are most
opposed to the bond agree
that the high school is no longer fit to house the education of our children. Therefore it is accurate to say that we EITHER vote YES to build a new high school that will not only meet the basic needs of our students, but will also provide new opportunities that no Gilmer ISD students have had in the past, OR we will do as we did a few years ago and spend MILLIONS OF DOLLARS to patch and remodel our existing building. We hope the information on this page will answer the questions you may have.
Fact vs. Fiction
Is the new high school really going to cost $100 million?
The bond amount is $35.25 million. Interest on the bond will be approx. $15-20 million or less depending on how long it takes to pay it off.
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Fiction: Gilmer ISD currently has a higher tax rate than other district's of the same size in East Texas.
Fact: Gilmer ISD's tax rate for the 2017-2018 school year is among the lowest in East Texas of district's comparative in size.
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Fiction: Gilmer ISD has more debt than other district's of the same size.
Fact: Among the 21 Texas school districts with an enrollment between 2,300 – 2,500 students, Gilmer ISD’s “Bond Principal Outstanding” ranks No. 16. Source: The Municipal Advisory Council of Texas – As of August 31, 2017. Includes Voted and M&O debt.
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Fiction: *Gilmer ISD cares more about the football stadium than academics. *Gilmer ISD "took" money from the Elementary School bond to build the new home stands and press box. *Gilmer's football stadium cost $20 million. *Gilmer ISD didn't buy text books for two years to pay for the football stadium. (These are all statements made by opponents of the new high school bond.)"
Fact: Fears that the 50+ year-old concrete home stands would collapse was the primary motivation for Gilmer ISD to finance $2.1 million in stadium improvements by selling revenue bonds. Revenue bonds do not require voter approval because the bonds are repaid from revenue generated by the project rather than by taxes. NO tax dollars went into this renovation. Ticket sales from events such as football games are used to pay the bond obligation.
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