FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • WHAT IS A BOND?

    A bond is similar to a home mortgage. It is a contract to repay borrowed money with interest over time. Bonds are sold by a school district to competing lenders to raise funds to pay for the costs of construction, renovations and equipment. Most school districts in Texas utilize bonds to finance renovations and new facilities.

    HOW CAN BOND FUNDS BE USED?

    Bond funds can be used to pay for new construction, renovations to existing facilities, land acquisition, and technology infrastructure. Bonds cannot be used for day-to-day operating costs, such as salaries, utility bills, supplies, maintenance and fuel.

    WHAT IS A BOND ELECTION?

    School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required for projects.

  • WHERE CAN I FIND EXACTLY WHAT IS PROPOSED IN THE BOND PACKAGE?

    Visit the On The Ballot section of the homepage to see a breakdown of each proposition and detailed project descriptions.

  • WHAT IS CARTHAGE ISD’S CURRENT TAX RATE?

    Carthage ISD’s current Maintenance & Operations (M&O) tax rate is $0.6692 and its Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate is $0.23 for a total tax rate of $0.8992.

    HOW WILL THE 2025 BOND PACKAGE AFFECT MY TAXES?

    If approved, there would be no increase to the tax rate as a result of passing the bond.

    WHY IS MY TAX BILL HIGHER IF THE TAX RATE STAYS THE SAME?

    The amount of taxes paid by each taxpayer is calculated by multiplying the district tax rate by each $100 of taxable value of the property. Therefore, if your assessed taxable value goes up, the amount you pay will go up even if the tax rate remains unchanged. The assessed value is set by your county appraisal district, not the school district.

    WHAT IF I’M OVER 65 AND RECEIVE THE “SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTION” AND MY HOME VALUE GOES UP? WILL MY SCHOOL TAXES INCREASE?

    No, according to state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the residence homestead of a person 65 years of age or older cannot be increased above the amount paid in the first year after the person turned 65 – regardless of changes in tax rate or property value – unless significant improvements are made to the home. Normal repairs, maintenance and the economic impact of the market cannot increase the amount of taxes you will pay once a tax ceiling is in place on that homestead.

    WHO DETERMINES PROPERTY VALUES AND WHO SETS THE TAX RATES FOR CARTHAGE ISD AND PANOLA COUNTY?

    The Panola County Appraisal District, which operates independently from Carthage ISD and Panola County government, and determines property values based on market conditions and state guidelines.

    Carthage ISD sets the school district’s tax rate separately, following state law, and does not control property values.

    Panola County also sets its own county tax rate independently.

    Each organization operates separately and is responsible for its own rates and valuations.

  • WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION?

    Any registered voter who lives within the Carthage ISD boundaries — and whose voter registration is based on their current Carthage ISD residence — is eligible to vote in this bond election.

    WHEN IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER VOTE IN THIS ELECTION?

    The last day to apply for voter registration is April 3, 2025 in order to vote in the May 3, 2023 election.

    HOW CAN I CHECK TO SEE IF I AM REGISTERED?

    Visit this website to check your registration status.

    DO I HAVE TO PICK ONE PROPOSITION OR THE OTHER TO VOTE FOR?

    No — each proposition stands on its own. You’ll see Proposition A and Proposition B listed separately on your ballot, and you can vote “yes” or “no” on one, both or neither; you’re never required to vote on every proposition for your votes to count. For more details or a sample ballot, visit the Panola County Elections website.

  • HOW MUCH OUTSTANDING BOND DEBT DOES CARTHAGE ISD HAVE? (as of election week)

    Since 2001, Carthage ISD voters have approved a total of $151,050,000 (not including bonds on the 2025 election) in bonds and only $33,911,000 is outstanding.

    The amount outstanding only includes bonds voted in the 2023 and 2020 elections. All bonds approved prior to those elections have been paid off.

    The district has a principal payment for $5,644,000 scheduled for August 2025, which will decrease this total amount significantly.

    Carthage ISD consistently structures its debt issues in a way that maximizes early payments, in order to reduce the interest paid by the District. Since 2022, and including 2025, the District will have paid $27,614,000 in principal debt service payments, as well as $7,591,000 in early payments.