$99.95 million bond election rejected Midlothian taxpayers fight back

Staff report

MIDLOTHIAN - The taxpayers have finally spoken.

Midlothian school district voters rejected a $99.95 million bond proposal Saturday, March 1, a plan that would have built new schools and a 10,000-seat football stadium, but would have added 22 cents to already-high property tax bills.

Of the 2,260 voters, 1,559 voted against, with 701 favoring it, according to Midlothian Independent School District communications director Jana Hathorne.

In anticipation of the bond vote, MISD officials began the process of moving portable classrooms on

to campuses Wednesday, Feb. 26.

'We've got to do something about these kids,' said one administration secretary. 'What are we going to do about this [overcrowding].'

Population projections plot MISD enrollment at nearly 12,000 students in 10 years and in an effort to battle the growth, the district sought to build a new high school, elementary schools and a new intermediate school, as well as renovating current facilities and adding improvements.

'It was just tax, tax, tax,' said MISD resident Delbert Ray. 'People can't afford to live here no more. What are we getting for our money?'

Now, the school district must decide what other alternatives there are to alleviate the overcrowding.

Share on: Facebook del.icio.us Digg StumbleUpon Twitter