Little Cypress Mauriceville CISD

About LCMCISD's Proposition A

About Prop A and Its Funding Priorities

This past August, the Board of Trustees approved Proposition A for the Nov. 3 election ballot.

Proposition A is a refunding bond proposal to refinance hurricane disaster and other maintenance tax note-related debt payments. The district borrowed $15 million after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 damaged school property and buildings. LCMCISD has paid back $7.5 million since then, even though it still has $70 million in damage, with additional hurricane damage since then from Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019.

This proposal would give the district additional money to refinance disaster debt payments from its I&S budget while preserving annual funds in its Maintenance & Operations (M&O) budget which may be used for teacher and staff retention, deferred maintenance, and district-wide facility upgrades.

This is possible thanks to a new agreement with a local business through the Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation (JETI) Act. JETI was created with the passage of House Bill 5 (88th Legislature, Regular Session) and aims to help Texas stay competitive by attracting new jobs and investment to the state. The JETI program allows a company, school district, and the Governor’s office to enter into an agreement for a 10-year school district maintenance and operations (M&O) tax appraised value limitation, subject to statutorily mandated job creation and investment minimums.

If voters approve Prop A, this would save the district’s M&O operating budget more than $900,000 in interest payments.

A graphic displaying four funding categories: Disaster Relief Debt Payment, Teacher & Staff Retention, Career & Technical Education, and District-Wide Upgrades.

A graphic displaying the text "96% of students participate in CTE"
More than 96% of high school students in the district participate in CTE programs. LCMCISD offers 14 Programs of Study, with 8 leading to a Level 1 Certificate through LSCO. Students who complete these programs will have the opportunity to walk at LSCO’s graduation ceremony in May. Across all Programs of Study, the district offers more than 20 industry certifications, with additional opportunities being developed to help students earn valuable credentials and prepare for success after high school.

If voters approve Prop A, the district could reallocate M&O budget funds to include district-wide CTE upgrades such as classroom equipment and facility upgrades like HVAC units and ventilation.

A graphic featuring the text 'DISASTER RELIEF DEBT PAYMENT' with icons of a storm cloud, building, and waves.

A graphic for CTE Renovations & New Equipment with a drafting compass.

A graphic featuring a gear symbol and the text 'DISTRICT-WIDE UPGRADES'

Prop A Estimated Impact

Zero Tax Rate Increase

A graphic with text "0 TAX RATE INCREASE". Based on the average home value of $211,000 in Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD, homeowners would not see an increase in their school district tax rate if voters approve Prop A. Pennies from the district’s I&S fund would be shifted, allowing the overall school district tax rate to remain the same.

Texas school districts have two budgets. The M&O budget pays for “People Costs,” or day-to-day expenses such as salaries, benefits, student educational and extracurricular programs, supplies, maintenance, food, and fuel. The Interest & Sinking (I&S) budget pays down bond debt for renovations, construction, major repairs, tax-qualified construction notes, and other projects in bond elections.

School districts don't have the same buying power that they did seven years ago. Operating costs have increased nearly 25% due to inflation, while the state has increased basic allotment funding by less than 1%.

About the Over 65 Tax Freeze

A graphic displaying the text "Ages 65 & older, $0 tax impact, over frozen dollar amount" The estimated financial impact of the 2026 election includes the $140,000 standard Homestead Exemption and the $200,000 Over-65 Homestead Exemption approved by state voters in November 2025, and a 15% local exemption.

There will not be an increase in taxes for homeowners who are senior citizens or disabled persons as a result of this proposal, provided they have applied for and received the Over 65 or Disabled Homestead Exemption with the appropriate appraisal district and have made no major improvements or additions to their residence. Check your most recent Notice of Assessed Value Change to see if you will be impacted, or go to Orange County Appraisal District website.

Voting Information

About the Ballot Language

A graphic features the text 'Required Ballot Language "This is a property tax increase" no matter how your tax dollars are affected' alongside a ballot box icon Since 2019, state law requires all propositions for any school district to have the phrase “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE” on all school proposition ballot language.

There will not be an increase in taxes for senior citizens or disabled persons as a result of this proposed bond. School property taxes are frozen for senior citizens and disabled persons and will remain unaffected by the passage of the election, provided they have applied for and received the Over 65 Homestead Exemption with the appropriate appraisal district and have made no major improvements or additions to their residence. Check your most recent Notice of Assessed Value Change to see if you will be impacted.

Prop A Ballot Language:

Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District
Proposition A
THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
The issuance of $9,060,000 of bonds for the purpose of refunding all or a portion of the principal, interest, and redemption premium on two previously issued maintenance tax obligations of the District, to wit: “Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District Maintenance Tax Notes, Series 2018” and “Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District Maintenance Tax Notes, Series 2022,” and the levy and imposition of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds and the cost of any credit agreements executed in connection with the issuance of the bonds.