College Station voters said yes to the school district’s two propositions as part of its $53 million bond package. Results became final after Saturday’s special election.
Proposition A passed with 3,129 votes for (56.87%) to 2,373 votes against (43.13%). This proposition will renovate and expand the stadiums at A&M Consolidated and College Station high schools, along with the Consol fieldhouse. Proposition B passed with 3,106 for (56.52%) to 2,389 votes against (43.48%). This proposition will turf each of the high schools’ baseball and softball fields, among other things.
District officials called for these propositions to be put up for vote again in February after they each failed to pass in last November’s election. In November, the items on Prop A failed to pass with 5,630 no votes (52.5%) to 5,089 yes votes (47.5%). The items on Prop B also failed to pass with 5,615 no votes (52.5%) to 5,088 yes votes (47.5%). This led district leaders to reengage with a bond planning committee, which created the bond package, in January. Committee members felt the items were still needs and recommended district officials call for another bond election this May.
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“The College Station community remains committed to supporting all aspects of a well-rounded public education for their children and today, they showed their support at the polls,” College Station Superintendent Tim Harkrider said in a statement. “I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the members of the 2023 long-range facilities and bond planning committee for their valuable insight on how these projects will impact the future of our schools and community; and to district staff and community members who ensured the College Station community was informed before casting their vote.
“With the approval of these propositions, we are able to provide functional, safe and cost-effective spaces for our students to participate in co-curriculars and our community to continue to cheer them on.”
The passage of these bonds will result in a tax increase. The 2023 bond package had an estimated two-cent increase to the current CSISD Interest and Sinking Tax Rate of $0.2630 per $100 valuation. The estimated increase from the 2023 bond will remain stable for the 2024 bond projects.
There was lower voter turnout in the election. Only 5,777 of 70,879 registered voters (8.15%) cast ballots for the election, which also included three other smaller races.
Proposition A is worth $40.2 million. Seating at Cougar Stadium and Tiger Stadium will be expanded to 6,300 and both stadiums will receive a new digital scoreboard with a video display. Both tracks will be resurfaced, and one of the “D-zones” — the area between the playing field and track — will be covered in artificial turf. Cougar Field’s press box roof will be replaced and exterior walls will be repaired. Tiger Stadium’s press box, restrooms and concessions areas will be rebuilt into one structure, similar to Cougar Field’s setup.
Consol’s fieldhouse will be expanded to around 8,000 square feet. The addition will be in the small parking lot next to the fieldhouse and include a new and enlarged sports medicine facility, baseball locker rooms and offices, concessions and restrooms for the baseball facility, and two classrooms. Interior renovations to the existing fieldhouse will create a freshman football locker room, relocate the coaches’ offices and expand the weight room. Safety concerns with space limitations in the Consol fieldhouse’s weight room and sports medicine facility were listed as reasons for needing an expansion project by district officials.
Proposition B is worth almost $13.3 million and will also add LED lighting at the four fields. Consol softball’s stadium will also get expanded seating, a new press box and ticket booth, plus modified sidewalks and parking.
The district spent around $60,000 in 2022-23 to use alternate facilities in surrounding areas when the district’s baseball and softball fields were deemed unplayable due to weather, according to officials. This past week the College Station softball team elected to play a “home” playoff game in Navasota, which has turf, instead of its home field due to poor conditions.
District officials believe they could save over $213,000 per year in maintenance costs by replacing the natural surfaces with turf. The district also could make money off turf fields. Last fall, a bond committee member shared a presentation with The Eagle that showed how the district could generate almost $400,000 in annual revenue between the four fields by hosting nondistrict tournaments, playoff games and rent their fields for select team practices and games.