Billions in new local government debt was approved during the May 2nd municipal elections, saddling taxpayers with higher taxes for years to come.
While state lawmakers continue talking about tax relief in Austin, cities, counties, special districts, and school districts across Texas quietly pushed through massive bond packages that will ultimately be paid for by taxpayers through higher property tax collections.
These elections exposed a familiar problem: local governments using low-turnout May elections to secure long-term debt with minimal public scrutiny.
Here are some of the more egregious bond packages that passed:
Dallas
Dallas ISD got ballot approval1 for a staggering $6.2 billion bond package: the largest school bond in Texas history. The proposal included funding for new campuses, athletic facilities, technology upgrades, and various facility projects. Supporters framed the package as an “investment,” but fiscal conservatives know the truth: bonds are not free money. Every borrowed dollar must eventually be repaid with interest, often costing taxpayers far more over time than the original price tag.
Fort Worth
An $845 million bond package passed2 in Fort Worth, covering everything from roads and public safety facilities to parks, libraries, and taxpayer-funded housing initiatives. While infrastructure maintenance is a legitimate government responsibility, local officials increasingly bundle basic needs together with expansive wish-list spending to make oversized bond packages more politically appealing.
Richardson
In Richardson,3 a $223.4 million bond package for streets, parks, fire facilities, and public buildings was upheld. City leaders claimed the package would not require a tax rate increase, but that talking point is deceptive. Richardson taxpayers will find that their tax bills increase even if the tax rate stays the same, and it’s likely their tax rate was set to be lowered had the bond package not been approved. As property appraisals continue climbing, local governments can still collect significantly more from taxpayers while technically keeping rates flat.
McAllen
McAllen ISD got its package approved4 for another large school bond totaling $335 million despite ongoing concerns about affordability and rising property taxes. Once again, voters were assured the package would not substantially impact taxpayers, even as local governments across Texas continue layering debt on top of already crushing property tax burdens.
Comfort
Perhaps the most revealing example came from Comfort ISD, a small district serving roughly 1,000 students from elementary to high school, which approved5 a $47.3 million bond package that included athletic facility upgrades and stadium improvements. That’s nearly $50,000 spent per student in the district.
Municipal Utility Districts
Meanwhile, dozens of Municipal Utility Districts and smaller local governments across Texas quietly passed additional bonds with little public attention. These entities frequently operate below the radar while steadily expanding taxpayer obligations through debt-financed growth and infrastructure projects.
Bond Debt Reform Looming
The lesson from May 2 is clear: Texas does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Until local governments are forced to prioritize core services, control debt, and respect taxpayers, property tax relief efforts at the state level will continue to be undermined by runaway local spending and borrowing.
This slate of bond debt will likely precede more in November and again in May of next year as taxing jurisdictions rush to push through proposals ahead of looming property tax and bond debt reforms to be considered by the Legislature in the upcoming 90th Legislative Session. Many lawmakers are ready to confront the bond debt elements of Texas’ runaway property tax problems that have been crushing Texas taxpayers for years.
Governor Greg Abbott recently said his sweeping proposals on property taxes would include elements to reign in the rise in bond-addicted local taxing jurisdictions, telling reporter Brandon Waltens6 his plan will not exclude them.
Had a two-thirds voter approval requirement been in place prior to May 2nd, many of the proposals would have failed. Failing bond packages might be the encouragement cities, counties, and school districts need to finally reign in spending, focus on core government functions, and only take to voters what they actually need.
Learn more about how Texans can curtail and ultimately eliminate property taxes HERE.7
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility relies on the support of private donors across the Lone Star State in order to promote fiscal responsibility and pro-taxpayer government in Texas. Please consider supporting our efforts! Thank you!
Get The Fiscal Note, our free weekly roll-up on all the current events that could impact your wallet. Subscribe today!
- https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dallas-isd-school-bond-election-may-2-2026/ ↩︎
- https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/fort-worth-bond-program-election-may-2-2026/ ↩︎
- https://www.cor.net/our-city/bond-projects/2026-bond ↩︎
- https://www.valleycentral.com/valleycentrals-local-elections-hq/mcallen-isd-voters-approve-335-million-bond/ ↩︎
- https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/79298859 ↩︎
- https://x.com/bwaltens/status/2044172180993233123?s=20 ↩︎
- https://texastaxpayers.com/texas-property-taxes-increased-2-7-billion-in-2025-whats-broken-and-how-do-we-actually-fix-it/ ↩︎
