Program

On Saturday, May 2, 2026, Arlington ISD voters approved Propositions A and B of the Bond 2026 election, while Proposition C did not pass. Preliminary results — set to become official on May 12 when the Board of Trustees canvasses the votes — showed Prop A passing with 59% approval and Prop B with 59% approval; Prop C failed with 52% voting against.

“This is a great day for Arlington ISD,” said Superintendent Dr. Matt Smith. “We are extremely grateful to the families and residents of Arlington ISD who came out to vote. The approval of Propositions A & B in Bond 2026 means we can improve aging facilities and equipment and ensure our students have the exceptional learning environments they deserve for years to come.”

With Bond 2026, voters approved $469.7 million in bond authorization across two propositions:

• Proposition A — $438,755,000: Funds two new elementary school replacements (including South Davis Elementary), a dedicated facility for the district’s Special Education 18 PLUSS program, renovations to facilities 50–70 years old, new Career & Technical Education equipment, new buses, and upgraded safety and security measures.
• Proposition B — $30,955,000: Funds replacement of instructional student technology devices, infrastructure technology devices, and staff technology devices.
• Proposition C — $31,565,000 (did not pass) would have funded synthetic turf installation at six comprehensive high school baseball and softball fields, replacement/upgrade of athletic equipment, and new athletic storage facilities.

By law, bond funds may not be used for daily operating expenses or salaries — they are restricted to projects approved by district voters.

Next steps: With Props A and B approved, Arlington ISD will begin coordinating with architects on a competitive bidding process and finalize a construction timeline, while working with financial advisors to establish a bond program issuance schedule. The first step will be forming a Bond Oversight Committee of community members to provide transparency and accountability throughout the program.

Financial impact: The approved bond projects can be funded with an estimated one-cent increase to Arlington ISD’s current tax rate — roughly $1.50/month, or $18/year, for a home valued at $300,000. Homeowners 65+ with a residence homestead exemption on file with Tarrant County will see no increase above their frozen tax amount (absent substantial home improvements). Over the past two decades, the district’s tax rate has fallen from $1.74 (2005–2006) to $1.09 (2025–2026), aided by more than $119 million in interest savings from early payoff of voter-approved debt through bond refinancing.

Development process: The bond package was shaped by a comprehensive, independent third-party review of district facilities and infrastructure, including an evaluation of the Facility Condition Index and capacity at every campus. A community-led Capital Needs Steering Committee (CNSC) — composed of parents, non-parents, educators, business owners, civic leaders, and other community members — reviewed enrollment trends, facility conditions, projected costs, and tax implications before recommending the bond package to the Board of Trustees, addressing capital needs through 2029 in support of the district’s strategic plan. The Board unanimously called the election during its February 5th meeting.