The Lampasas ISD Board of Trustees has finalized propositions to be included on a May 2026 bond election ballot. The district is asking voters to authorize approximately $139.6 million in spending.
Although trustees did not officially call for the election in Wednesday’s special meeting, members agreed how propositions should be presented to voters. Before coming to a consensus, trustees considered the price of the new Lampasas Middle School campus, the tax rate increase the district will ask of voters, and whether money should be allocated to Badger Field.
Since bond discussions began in the fall, the price of the new LMS campus has fluctuated. The price presented to the district’s Facilities Planning Committee in October was listed at $92.667 million but rose to $112 million during trustee discussions in December. Now, the district has earmarked approximately $104 million for the new campus.
Trustees want to ensure they do not ask voters to approve a price that ultimately falls under budget. Board President Ryan Shahan said Wednesday he felt confident in the price for the new middle school campus.
“Can it be less? Maybe. Can it be more? Maybe. But I think for a bond proposal number, $104 [million] is a good number,” Shahan said.
The new campus will be featured on Proposition A along with safety and security improvements slated for the district’s three elementary school campuses and a new fleet of buses. Total price of the proposition is approximately $115.5 million and will require a little bit more than a three-cent increase to the district’s tax rate of $1.0152 per $100 in property valuation.
Trustee Jeff Rutland said the proposition is something the community will get on board with.
“I feel like the community is going to support it,” Rutland said. “Are they going to support all of it? I don’t know. I feel like the three-and-a-half to fourcent increase is doable.”
Trustee Randy Morris shared Rutland’s sentiments, noting the district does not often come to the public for bond funds.
“It is the first time in 20 years and probably won’t happen for a while,” he said.
Proposition B will include items such as a multipurpose athletic center, traffic solutions at Taylor Creek Elementary School and Lampasas High School, an outdoor pavilion for band practice, a fine arts allowance, and maintenance and transportation facility improvements. If approved by voters, Proposition B -- totaling approximately $21.5 million -- would raise the district’s tax rate a bit over nine cents.
Since stadium upgrades cannot be included with general facility improvements in a bond proposition, Proposition C will address the LHS track and turf field replacement.
Trustee Sam Walker said the district should include $500,000 in the proposition for Badger Field improvements such as lighting, restrooms or other cosmetic upgrades.
Trustee Rob Borchardt hinted that amount might not be enough.
“What is $500,000 really going to get you?” Borchardt said. “If you start talking lights, if we are thinking that, it’s not going to cover lights.”
Trustees agreed $500,000 was too low and opted to include $1 million in Proposition C for improving Badger Field. What those upgrades will entail is yet to be decided.
PROPOSITIONS BY THE DOLLAR
Trustees will officially call for the bond election in their next regular meeting, scheduled for Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building. If all three propositions are approved by voters in May, the district’s tax rate would increase a bit over 11 cents.
Here is how trustees outlined the propositions in Wednesday’s meeting and the corresponding dollar amount to each project.
PROPOSITION A totaling $115,549,973 includes:
• new LMS campus ($104,068,700)
• demolition of the current middle school ($1,481,273)
• safety and security at the district’s three elementary schools ($4 million)
• a new fleet of school buses ($6 million) PROPOSITION B totaling $21,577,758 includes:
• Lampasas High School traffic solution ($1,489,158)
• Taylor Creek Elementary School traffic solution ($588,600)
• maintenance and transportation facility improvements ($2 million)
• band and fine arts allowance ($1 million)
• multi-purpose athletic center ($15 million)
• band practice area and open-air pavilion ($1.5 million) PROPOSITION C totaling $2.5 million includes:
• LHS track and turf field replacement and Badger Field renovations ($2.5 million)
