The Fairfield Independent School
District Board of Trustees has called
a bond election for Saturday, May 9,
2015.
The amount of the bond is $ 3 million to be paid back in 4 years. The
purpose of the bond is “for the con-
Fiscal
Tax Year Year EndEnding
ing
2013
2014
2014
2015
2015
2016
2016
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
Assumed
Taxable Assessed Annual I&S Tax
Valuation
Growth
Rate
$ 1,651,288,491.00
0.2785
$ 1,601,551,732.00
0.2627
$ 1,569,520,697.00
-5%
0.2627
$ 1,538,130,283.00
-2%
0.2564
$ 1,507,367,678.00
-2%
0.2620
$ 1,507,367,678.00
-2%
0.1906
struction, acquisition and equipment
of school buildings in the district
The table at the right shows
(including the rehabilitation, renova-
the maximum tax impact
tion, expansion, and improvement
based on the I&S tax rate
thereof) and the purchase of the
remaining $0.2627 per $100
necessary sites for school buildings,
valuation for the tax year
and the purchase of new school bus-
ending 2015.
es”.
This type of bond is sometimes called
a “rolling maintenance bond”. It allows the district to address mainte-
Appraised
Home Value
$
40,000
$
60,000
$
75,000
$
90,000
$
100,000
$
125,000
$
150,000
State Mandated
Residential
Homestead Exemption
$
15,000
$
15,000
$
15,000
$
15,000
$
15,000
$
15,000
$
15,000
The table at the left shows the
I&S tax rate for the 4 years of
the bond with an estimated 5%
tal valuation for property in Fairfield Independent School District
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Taxable Value
25,000
45,000
60,000
75,000
85,000
110,000
135,000
Maximum Tax Impact Based on
Maximum Tax Increase
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0

Maintenance & Operations (M&O)—pays for everyday operations, including payroll
The M&O tax is subject to Chapter 41, also known as “Robin Hood” and FISD has to send a percent-
stead of general funds. The idea be-
age of that money to the state. However, the I&S tax is not subject to Chapter 41, so all of that
hind this is that Fairfield ISD will re-
money stays in Fairfield.
“recapture”.

There are 2 kinds of tax rates:
tion needs utilizing bond money in-
from the bonds to Austin for

and 2% annually after that.
Interest & Sinking (I&S)—can only be used to pay off the bonds approved by the community
will not have to send any money

decrease the first year in the to-
nance, technology, and transporta-
ceive 100% of this bond money and
Projects to be addressed from the
bond funds:
A good comparison is the purchase of a bus. If FISD purchases a bus from I&S funds, it will cost
about $95,000. If it is purchased from M&O funds, it will cost $95,000 also, but to get that $95,000
it actually “costs” about $145,000 in taxes because of the part (about $50,000) that we have to send
to the state for recapture.


Replacement of buses for the district—FISD has 30 buses, 23 are at
least 10 years old and 16 are 13 years
old or older.
Upgrade technology infrastructure—
our current network is 5 to 8 years old.
Technology improvements have outdated several of our items and they
cannot be repaired, so have to be replaced.
Upgrade technology devices for students and teachers—our computers for
students and teachers are also at least 5
years old. This will allow these computers to be replaced with new computers that will provide a better opportunity for our students.
Upgrade district security system—
FISD has committed to providing a
safe and secure environment. By updating our system we can provide more
cameras to provide additional security
for our students and staff.
Maintenance updates district wide.
Create additional parking areas on high
school campus by grading and graveling the parking lot to the north of the
football field.
This brochure has been prepared by the Fairfield Independent School District. It is factual and is intended to inform the voters of
Fairfield ISD about the upcoming election.
All eligible registered voters are encouraged
to become informed and exercise their right
to vote in this important election.
Frequently Asked Questions
FISD Mission Statement
What about the TRE we passed last fall. I
thought that was supposed to fix the problems?
The TRE that was passed in September was to
help FISD have enough revenues to balance the
budget. FISD had adopted deficit budgets the
previous 2 years. The TRE allowed us to adopt a
balanced budget. In 2017 FISD will lose over $2
million in funding from the state with the elimination of the ASATR program. The TRE enabled us
to have a balanced budget and provide additional
funding to address that loss. The Bond will help
us address needs without using money subject to
recapture.
How can you pass a bond and my taxes
won’t increase?
The amount of the bond that is proposed, $3 million over 4 years, is based on the amount of money that can be raised if we do not ask voters to
increase their tax rate. FISD has some bonds from
construction coming to maturity in the next couple
of years. We based the amount we are asking for
on the idea of keeping taxes the same.
Won’t we have to send part of this money to
the state since FISD is Chapter 41 (“Robin
Hood”)?
Actually, NO. The state recaptures funds from our
regular taxes, but these are “interest & sinking”
taxes that are approved by the community and the
state does not recapture anything from it.
The mission of Fairfield Independent School District is to
ences in the property values of districts across the
our school. All students will
called “Chapter 41” districts by many. All the oth-
develop essential skills and a
er districts are called “Chapter 42” districts.
knowledge base on which to
Chapter 41 refers to the chapter in the Texas Edutrict is and if they must send money to the state
Fairfield ISD is considered a Chapter 41 district.
This means that FISD must send a portion of its
M&O (general fund) taxes to the state every year.
Mr. Blake Robinson, President
Mrs. Tracie Ezell, Vice-President
Mr. Eric Chavers, Secretary
Mr. LaCharles Bass, Trustee
Mr. Kevin Benedict, Trustee
Mr. John Fryer, Trustee
Mrs. Kim Whitaker, Trustee
2 015 B OND
ELECTION
cation Code that determines how “wealthy” a disthrough “recapture”.
Board of Trustees
ISD
Hood as it is known by some, addresses the differstate. Districts that are considered “wealthy” are
build lifelong learning.
FAIRFIELD
Chapter 41 of the Texas Education Code, or Robin
educate all students attending
The state then uses those funds to help finance
E LECTION D AY S ATURDAY,
MAY 9, 2015
L OCATIONS :
 S TREETMAN C ITY H ALL
 B UTLER COMMUNITY
CENTER
other districts and programs throughout Texas.

Many people call it “Robin Hood” because it seems
Unfortunately, without a change in the law about
OAKS
VOLUNTEER FIRE
like the story of Robin Hood stealing from the rich
and giving to the poor.
S OUTHERN
DEPARTMENT

F AIRFIELD I SD CENTRAL
OFFICE
how schools are financed, FISD has no option ex-
How much money will FISD actually get
from the bonds?
cept to send this money to the state. This year
FISD will receive the entire $3 million if the bond
election passes.
Fairfield will send approximately $5.5 million to the
state, who will then send it to other districts.
What will it be used for?
Some of the items that we are looking at replacing/updating include buses that are over 13 years
old, technology infrastructure that is outdated,
computers for student and teacher use that are
outdated and cannot run some of the software we
currently use, parking issues at the high school by
completing the parking lot beside the football field,
and updating our security system to include additional cameras district-wide and new software and
hardware to enable the system to be utilized to its
fullest.
What does Chapter 41 or “Robin
Hood” mean to Texas schools?
Bond taxes (I&S) are different. They are not sub-
E ARLY V OTING
A PRIL 27 , 2 0 1 5— M AY 5
M ONDAY— F RIDAY
8:00—4:00
ject to Chapter 41, Robin Hood, and recapture. So
Fairfield ISD
615 Post Oak Road
Fairfield, Texas 75840
www.fairfield.k12.tx.us
Phone: 903-389-2532
every penny raised through a bond election will
stay in Fairfield ISD. And the current bond election will raise $3 million dollars to help FISD address needs across the district.
L OCATION:
FISD
A DMINISTRATION OFFICE
615 POST OAK ROAD
FAIRFIELD, TX 7 5 8 40