Voters in Dallas ISD will see a $6.2 billion bond on the May ballot after the district’s board voted unanimously on Feb. 12 to send the proposal to voters.
District leaders said the bond will allow them to build 26 new schools, modernize existing campuses, and add 400 permanent classrooms to replace portables, as well as upgrade athletic facilities and other infrastructure. The plan will carry a property tax increase of about $33.48 per year for the average Dallas homeowner.
In 2020, the Dallas ISD bond package approved by voters consisted of two propositions and did not raise the district’s tax rate. After members of the Citizen’s Bond Steering Committee, formed in 2025, reviewed facilities, surveyed the community, and debated priorities, district leaders discussed placing the 2026 bond on the ballot.
The $6.2 billion plan will dedicate nearly $6 billion to building 26 new schools, modernizing classrooms, adding 400 permanent classrooms to replace portables, upgrading safety and security at all campuses, and enhancing athletic spaces. Smaller portions cover $144.7 million for student devices, $143.3 million to refinance existing debt, and $26.25 million for swimming pool renovations.
A smaller $4.9 billion plan had been considered, which would have kept property taxes steady but scaled back projects. Only 24 new schools would have been built, not all portables removed, and renovations would have focused on basic repairs rather than modernizing classrooms. Pool updates were not included. The smaller plan would still have improved conditions over existing classrooms, said Brent Alfred, the district’s chief construction officer, in a Jan. 8 board briefing, but instructional limitations would have remained the same.
David Bates, the district’s chief of operations, explained that a key difference between the proposed bond options was whether campuses could be designed to properly support specialized programs, reported The Dallas Morning News. With many programs being forced into temporary or undersized spaces, programs such as the Leadership Cadet Corps or dance classes often ended up in portables. The $6.2 billion bond would allow classrooms to be designed around the needs of these programs rather than squeezing them into spaces that barely fit, he said.
If voters approve the funding proposal on the May ballot, the district will move forward with building new schools, modernizing existing campuses, adding permanent classrooms, and upgrading athletic and pool facilities. Homeowners will see a modest increase in property taxes to help fund these improvements.
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