Finances & Estimated Impact
If Approved, What is The Impact On The Average Homeowner?
If both propositions are approved, The tax rate will increase by .0385 cents. Although the tax rate will increase, if voters choose to pass the Manor ISD bond, the average property owner in Manor ISD would not see an increase overall on their school district tax dollars due to property values decreasing from the previous year.
The tax impact associated with the $400 million bond for Manor ISD based on the average home value in the district, which is approximately $331,764, will be a decrease of $9.56 per month compared to the previous year if both propositions are approved.
- Proposition A = -$9.56 per month
- Proposition B = 0 impact per month
The estimated financial impact of Bond 2026 includes the $200,000 homestead exemption approved by state voters in November 2025. Homeowners age 65 and older or disabled will now receive a $200,000 homestead exemption if they have filed for and received the Over-65 or disabled exemption through their local tax assessor’s office. Once homeowners qualify for these exemptions, school property taxes are frozen at the established ceiling, protecting the homeowner from any tax rate increases.
Over 65 Tax Freeze
There will not be an increase in taxes for senior citizens or disabled persons as a result of this proposed bond. School property taxes are frozen for senior citizens and disabled persons and will remain unaffected by the passage of the bond election, provided they have applied for and received the Over 65 Homestead Exemption with the appropriate appraisal district and have made no major improvements or additions to their residence.
Recent legislation raised the Over-65 Homestead Exemption to $200,000. As a result, homeowners aged 65 and older with an assessed home value of $200,000 or less will now owe zero school district taxes if they have filed for and received the exemption.
To check your exemption status and current school district tax amount, visit the Travis County Appraisal District property search at traviscad.org/propertysearch, or call 512-834-9317.
Ballot Language For School District Bond Elections
The ballot language will include the statement "THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE."
Legislation passed in the 2019 Texas Legislative Session requires that school districts include this language, regardless of the bond's impact on the district’s tax rate.
This means State law requires all bond propositions for any school district to have the phrase “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE" on all ballot language for bond propositions. Due to this requirement, all voters will see this statement on the official ballot language, even when there is no tax rate increase for homeowners aged 65 and older who have filed for and received the Over-65 exemption. Their school taxes will not go above the frozen levy amount/ceiling that was established when the Over-65 exemption was granted (unless improvements or additions are made to the residence).
What About State Funding?
School districts do not receive additional state funding for building schools or making major renovations and instead must use voter-approved bonds, which finance large projects that are repaid over time, like a mortgage.
Bonds are funded through a dedicated funding source: interest & sinking (I&S), separate from the maintenance & operations (M&O) fund used for teacher salaries and student programs.
Homeowners borrow money in the form of a mortgage to finance the purchase of a home. A school district borrows money in the form of bonds to finance new schools and renovation projects. Both are repaid over time, but for a school district to issue bonds (borrow money), it must seek voter approval. By law, bond funds may not be used to fund daily operating expenses or salaries. Bond funds may only be used for the projects described in the official ballot language.
Managing Taxpayer Dollars
- Since voters approved the 2019 Bond, the district has been fiscally responsible with taxpayer funds, paying down debt early, and saving taxpayers nearly $41 million in interest.
- Over the last six years, the district has refinanced $156.7M of bond principal, incurring a total savings of nearly $41M in long-term interest cost.
Delaying Implementation Increases Construction Costs
Delaying implementation of the bond program exposes Manor ISD to escalating construction costs, which are estimated to increase the total cost of the proposed bond projects by an additional 8%, or up to $31 million annually.
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Prop A Prop B Voting Information Frequently Asked Questions Bond 2026 Landing Page Videos/Resources
