Questions

Most school districts in Texas use bonds to finance renovations, additions and new facilities. School districts do not receive any money from the state for the construction of new school buildings or improvements. Since school buildings serve the community for 50 or more years, it is well reasoned that taxpayers would pay for them over a period of 30 years and not from the district's annual operating budget.

By law, bond funds cannot be used for payroll expenses or any daily operational costs such as utilities, supplies, fuel, and insurance.  Instead, bond funds can only be used for new buildings, additions and renovations, land acquisition, technology infrastructure and equipment, or school buses.

The goal of this bond election is to construct needed facilities in the District and keep the tax rate at its present level of $0.2550. This is possible due to the amount of taxable value that will be attached to the tax roles progressively over the next few years from a new Golden Triangle Polymers Company facility that is being built in the District. Effectively a great majority of the bonds will be paid based on these new taxable values and the District is trying to time the payment of the debt service with these new values.

A school district’s tax rate is comprised of two components or “buckets”. The first bucket is the Maintenance and Operations budget (M&O), which funds daily costs and recurring or consumable expenditures such as teacher and staff salaries, supplies, software and utilities. The second bucket is the Interest and Sinking budget (I&S), also known as Debt Service, and that is for longer-term capital improvements approved by voters through bond elections. I&S funds cannot by law be used to pay M&O expenses, which means that voter-approved bonds cannot be used to increase teacher salaries or pay rising costs for utilities and services.

Visit this link to see how WOCCISD's tax rate has changed over the years.  Notice the reduction in M&O rate, while I&S has stayed fairly constant.
 https://4.files.edl.io/436f/10/19/23/144418-da21ef34-9351-4c4e-8386-9b06a42cddd0.pdf

Voters may vote at any one of these locations:
EARLY VOTING

Monday, April 22 – Friday, April 26
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Monday, April 29 – Tuesday, April 30
7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

LOCATION ADDRESS ROOM / BUILDING
Orange Public Library
(Main Early Voting Location)		 220 N. 5th St – Orange Ira Williamson Meeting Room
Orange County Expo Center   11475 FM 1442 – Orange Dupont Room
Orange County Airport 2640 Hwy 87 – Orange Conference Room
Raymond Gould Community Center 385 Claiborne St -Vidor         Main Room
ELECTION DAY

Saturday, May 4, 2024
7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

LOCATION ADDRESS ROOM / BUILDING
Orange Public Library 220 N. 5th St – Orange Ira Williamson Meeting Room
LCMCISD Administration Bldg 6586 FM 1130 – Orange Board Room
Salvation Army 1950 MLK Dr – Orange Dining / Meeting Room
Orange County Expo Center   11475 FM 1442 – Orange             Dupont Room
Orange County Airport 2640 Hwy 87 – Orange Conference Room
Bridge City Knights of Columbus Hall 495 W Roundbunch Rd -Bridge City Main Hall
Raymond Gould Community Center   385 Claiborne St -Vidor         Main Room
Vidor ISD Administration Bldg 1255 N Main Street – Vidor Meeting Room

Anyone at least 18 years of age and living within the boundaries of West Orange-Cove CISD is eligible to vote.  You must be registered by Thursday, April 4, 2024, in order to participate in this election.

You can check your voter registration status at www.votetexas.gov.

If you need to update your address, you can simply fill out the change online.

WOCCISD has previously purchased 27 acres adjacent to WOS Elementary. North Early Learning Center will be constructed on that property and we will add additional entrances to the property from 35th Street and Pheasant Avenue.

WOCCISD plans to repurpose the current NELC facility for district use. We will continue to maintain it and it will not be left vacant.