At a Glance:
- Election Day: Saturday, May 2, 2026 (polls 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.). Early voting has ended.
- Bond Amount: $6.2 billion — the largest school bond proposal in Texas history.
- Four Propositions:
- Prop A (~$5.9B): New replacement schools, renovations, remove ~700 portables, safety upgrades, buses, athletic facilities, etc.
- Prop B (~$144M): Student technology.
- Prop C (~$143M): Refinancing existing debt.
- Prop D (~$26M): Swimming pool repairs.
- Tax Impact: 1-cent property tax rate increase. Roughly $2.79/month for a ~$500k home (after homestead exemption). Seniors (65+) with a homestead exemption are protected from the increase.
The Details: Historic $6.2B Dallas ISD Bond Goes to Voters This Saturday
Dallas voters head to the polls Saturday for Election Day on the biggest school bond proposal in Texas history.
Early voting has already wrapped up, and May 2 is the final chance to cast a vote – with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The vote will determine whether Dallas ISD gets the green light to spend $6.2 billion of taxpayer money on its schools, a move that could potentially cost every taxpayer nearly $3 a month.
The bond proposal is split across four ballot propositions:
Proposition A, totaling around $5.9 billion, would fund 26 new “replacement” schools and renovations across existing campuses in the district, as previously reported by DX. It also covers the removal of about 700 portable classrooms currently serving nearly 10,000 students, along with funding for new buses, upgrades to athletic facilities, and improvements to playgrounds.
Proposition B, which amounts to around $144 million, would fund student technology upgrades.
Proposition C would refinance $143 million in existing district debt, and Proposition D, at $26.2 million, would repair aging district swimming pools.
District officials estimate the proposal would require a 1-cent increase in the property tax rate. For a homeowner with a property value of just over $500,000 – after applying a $140,000 homestead exemption – that would amount to about $2.79 per month, or about $33.48 per year. However, homeowners age 65 and older who have applied for a homestead exemption would not see an increase in their school district taxes.
Financial Juggling: Billions in Old Bonds Unspent as Voters Face Record New Debt
The district argues that the monthly cost is small; however, as DX reported in February, the financial juggling ahead of this vote warrants a closer look.
According to data from the Texas Bond Review Board, Dallas ISD had about $4.61 billion in tax-supported debt as of fiscal 2025 and issued another $1.18 billion that year alone. This total doesn’t include any future borrowing under the proposed $6.2 billion bond. The district is also finishing its 2020 bond program, which authorized $3.7 billion for construction and upgrades.
As such, voters are being asked to authorize billions in new debt while the last record-setting bond package hasn’t yet spent all its funds.
Credit Warning: Fitch Drops Dallas ISD Rating Ahead of $6.2B Bond Vote
As previously reported by DX, Fitch Ratings – a global credit rating agency that evaluates how likely borrowers are to repay their debt- recently downgraded Dallas ISD’s rating to “AA” from “AA+.”
The move reflects concerns about the district’s long-term liabilities and the likelihood it will take on more debt. Fitch called the district’s liability burden “midrange” and cautioned that future borrowing for capital projects could put additional pressure on its finances.
The district’s bonds remain backed by the Texas Permanent School Fund, which carries a AAA guarantee — but the downgrade is worth noting as voters decide whether to pile on additional borrowing.
Enrollment Plunges 14,000 Students — But Billions More for Facilities?
Supporters could argue that better buildings produce better outcomes. Critics aren’t so sure.
Education activist Russell Fish questioned whether large expenditures truly address the district’s most pressing challenges.
“No,” Fish said when asked if the $6.2 billion bond is necessary to improve reading proficiency. “Well, I have yet to see a bond issue that affects literacy or mathematical skills… those have nothing to do with buildings,” Fish told DX.
Enrollment trends raise even more concerns. District data shows Dallas ISD has reportedly lost roughly 14,000 students since the 2019–2020 school year – the last school year before the previous bond election.
Whether Dallas voters rubber-stamp the historic bond package on Saturday or pump the brakes, The Dallas Express will keep readers informed.
