Bexar County Voters Reject School Tax Increases and Bond Measures
Four of five district tax rate proposals failed in November elections, leaving Northside and San Antonio ISD with deficits and frozen raises.
By Ibrahim Howard ·
Bexar County voters rejected four of five school district tax rate increases on November 3, 2026. The losses leave Northside Independent School District and San Antonio Independent School District without the revenue needed to fund new compensation packages and operational costs. The Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City district race in Guadalupe County remained too close to call as of early Wednesday morning.
Northside ISD sought an additional $21.5 million in local revenue annually through a maintenance and operations tax hike. The district also proposed three bond measures totaling $886 million for infrastructure upgrades. Because the tax rate election failed, the 2% pay raise and $15 minimum wage approved by trustees in June will not take effect. Northside trustee Bobby Blount cited voter confusion over ballot language and a larger November turnout as potential factors in the defeat.
San Antonio ISD attempted to secure $5.5 million in annual revenue for staff stipends and teacher pipeline programs. The district also proposed $600 million in bond financing for campus renovations and technology. Voters rejected all measures. Mario Barrera, chair of the district’s political action committee, expressed disappointment, noting that teachers had not received salary increases in the previous academic year due to budget constraints. He attributed the results to a regional anti-tax sentiment and a perception that districts were adequately funded by the state legislature.
The failures reflect a persistent challenge for Texas school districts facing flat state funding and rising operational costs. Districts have increasingly relied on Voter-Approval Tax Rate Elections as the primary local tool to raise revenue for daily operations. In the previous year, five San Antonio-area districts held similar elections, and all but one failed. This pattern indicates that voters in the region are resisting new local levies despite growing financial pressures on school systems.
Bond propositions failed across the board, denying districts access to debt financing for construction and security upgrades. Northside’s rejected bonds included $765 million for security, buses, and building repairs. San Antonio ISD’s rejected bonds included $492 million for similar infrastructure needs. Both districts planned to use bond proceeds to purchase school buses with seat belts, a requirement mandated by state law in 2025 without dedicated funding. The rejections force these districts to rely on existing funds for mandatory safety upgrades.
