frequently asked questions

General Questions

  • 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.

  • Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing facilities, 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.

  • School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors to raise the capital dollars required for projects such as renovation to existing buildings or building a new school. Essentially, the voters are giving permission for the district to take out a loan and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a mortgage loan for their home. A school board calls a bond election so voters can decide whether or not they want to pay for proposed facility projects.

Finance & Tax Questions

  • Public schools have two rates that are combined. VISD’s is currently $1.178. Passage of this bond would make the 2026 tax rate $1.248.

    Visit the Tax Info page for recent tax rate history, as well as an explanation of how the two tax rates are used.

  • The Board of Trustees called a bond election in the amount of $76,000,000 to be brought before voters on May 3, 2025.

  • Visit the Tax Information page to learn more, including a calculator.

  • No. If you have filed a 65 and older exemption on your homestead, by law, your school taxes cannot be raised above their frozen level.

Project Questions

  • We have added a new page about the phased approach of a new Venus High School. Please visit the New VHS Project page.

  • The bond package was developed by the Bond Committee, that was made up of community leaders, parents, grandparents, and staff. The committee met multiple times over several months to study a facility assessment, district finances and tax impact scenarios, demographics and student enrollment growth, results from a community survey, and project costs.

    Visit the Committee Page for more information and FAQs.

Voting Questions

  • Any registered voter that resides within Venus ISD boundaries

  • The deadline for voter registration is April 3, 2025. If you are not registered to vote by this deadline, then you are not eligible to vote in this election. The Texas Voter Registration Application can be found online here, or applications can be picked up at any Post Office, library or Department of Public Safety location.

  • Visit the Voting Info page for dates, times, location, and sample ballot language.

The VISD Bond Information Page also houses some helpful information.

Additional questions can be submitted to Communications@Venusisd.net.