Klein narrowly passes school bond package: Most of the other districts in area OK similar measures

May 11, 2008 (Houston Chronicle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- -- A controversial $647 million bond package in the Klein school district won approval by a narrow margin of about 300 votes Saturday -- clearing the way for construction of two $100-million-plus high schools.

The Klein bond issue was the largest of the nearly $1.6 billion in school bonds that Houston-area school districts and community colleges asked voters to approve Saturday.

According to early and incomplete returns Saturday, only the Crosby school district's $103.5 million bond issue had been rejected.

Opponents of the Klein bond campaigned aggressively that the district was overspending and said they were disappointed in the results.

"We wanted to be organized and we wanted to be heard," said Rich Talaber, who helped spearhead opposition. "We've accomplished our primary objective."

BRAZORIA COUNTY

--Danbury ISD: A $9.5 million bond issue to expand and renovate campuses was gaining approval in early returns. If approved, the measure will mean an increase in the school tax rate by 26.5 cents per $100 valuation.

FORT BEND COUNTY

--Brazos ISD: Voters in the rural school district, which lies partly in Austin and Fort Bend counties, overwhelmingly approved a $6.9 million bond measure to fund new classroom construction and renovations at the district's only high school. With the bond's passage, the district's current overall tax rate of $1.22 will rise about 12 cents.

GALVESTON COUNTY

--Hitchcock ISD: A $40 million bond election to build a new high school and an elementary school was approved meaning the district's tax rate of $1.22 per $100 valuation will increase by 30 cents.

HARRIS COUNTY

--Crosby ISD: Voters in east Harris County turned down a $103.5 million bond issue for a new middle school and new technology center.

--Humble ISD: A $245 million bond proposal to build three new schools and to buy land for future campuses was soundly approved. With the bond's passage, the current tax rate of $1.41 per $100 valuation will jump by 8 cents.

--Klein ISD: The controversial $647 million bond won with 52 percent of the vote. The proposal will build seven new schools. It also will fund an almost complete rebuild of Klein High School. The proposal could increase the tax rate in the northwest Harris Country school district by 20 cents to $1.46 per $100 of assessed property value over the next several years.

--Lone Star College: A $420 million bond issue for new buildings on each of the community college's five campuses appeared headed for approval with more than half the votes counted.

Lone Star College serves community college students in the Aldine, Conroe, Cypress-Fairbanks, Humble, Klein, Magnolia, New Caney, Spring, Splendora, Tomball and Willis independent school districts.

--San Jacinto College: A $295 million bond package for new science buildings, physical education facilities and campus libraries overwhelmingly won approval Saturday.

The bond's passage, means the tax rate will increase by as much as 4 cents to 18.54 cents per $100 valuation. Saturday's bond approval was the college district's first since 1999.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

--Conroe ISD: Voters approved a $527 million bond package to build seven new schools and major additions and renovations to existing campuses in the growing school district.

The plan includes two new junior high schools, an intermediate school and four elementary schools. A junior high would also be converted into a ninth-grade center.

With the bond approval, the tax rate will go up to 10 cents to $1.34 per $100 of assessed value.

Voters in 2004 passed a $279 million bond package.

ruth.rendon@chron.com

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