Round Rock Independent School District (ISD) is preparing to issue $300 million in bonds approved by voters as part of its 2024 bond package. The sale is expected to take place in February, following the trustees’ approval during a board meeting on January 22. This funding will support a range of campus projects, transitioning from planning to construction, with cash anticipated to be available by early March.
The bond sale represents a significant portion of the total bond package of approximately $932 million that voters endorsed in November 2023. According to Community Impact, the district plans to conduct the bond sale in the second week of February. Proceeds from this sale will be allocated to projects under bond propositions A, B, and C.
Rudy Mejia, CEO of Nickel Hayden Advisors, informed district officials that strong credit ratings are likely, which may help minimize borrowing costs. District leaders emphasized the urgency of making these funds available quickly to ensure that purchase orders and preliminary work can commence without any delays.
Allocation of Funds and Project Priorities
The $300 million from the bond sale is earmarked for various initiatives, including campus renovations, athletic and fine arts upgrades, and improvements to technology infrastructure and device acquisition. These priorities directly align with voter expectations as outlined in the 2024 proposals.
Round Rock ISD has already initiated several projects in Year 1, such as staff device refresh pilots, upgrades to stadium LED lighting, resurfacing of tracks, and acquiring new buses. Officials anticipate that the pace of work will accelerate following the bond sale, as part of a phased, multi-year strategy designed to coordinate construction and procurement activities with permitting timelines and prevailing market conditions.
Financial Implications and Next Steps
Financial advisors have indicated that the timing of the bond sale, alongside the district’s credit profile, will significantly influence the effectiveness of these funds. Higher credit ratings generally equate to lower interest expenses for taxpayers. Mejia noted that the district is expected to enter the sale with an AAA-level credit rating, which typically attracts strong, competitive bids from investors and helps to keep financing costs manageable.
The pricing window for the bond sale is set for the second week of February, with funds expected to be finalized by early March. This timeline allows for the quick issuance of purchase orders. Previous bond sales in 2025 yielded interest rates ranging from approximately 3.33% to 3.98%, which the district estimates will save taxpayers around $15 million over the bonds’ lifespan.
District officials plan to return to the board with final pricing information and project sequencing. Once the new funds are available, the public will have access to a campus-by-campus progress tracker through the district’s online bond tracker, providing transparency and accountability as projects move forward.
