On March 18, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation allowing for political subdivisions to postpone their May 2, 2020 special or general elections.
With a Stay-in-Place order in effect in Burnet County, businesses remaining closed, restrictions on the size of groups, and concerns for the safety and wellbeing of the Burnet CISD community, the Board of Trustees approved changing the elections to November 3, 2020.
The Board did word their motion in a way to provide for the possibility that the Governor could pass an order allowing school districts to move May trustee and bond elections to July 14, 2020, when the Texas Primary Elections runoff will be held.
“We feel postponing the elections was the appropriate decision given public health concerns related to COVID-19. For now, we are focusing our energy and resources on meeting the needs of our learners, their families, and our staff,” said Superintendent Keith McBurnett.
Below are the date changes for the Burnet CISD elections:
Voter Registration Deadline: October 5, 2020
Deadline to Submit an Application for Ballot by Mail (ABM): October 23, 2020
Early Voting: October 19 – October 30, 2020
Election Day: November 3, 2020
Board of Trustee Election Details
There are two places on the ballot, Place 3 and 7. The following candidates have filed for the election:
Place 3
Suzanne Brown, Incumbent
Place 7
Mark Kincaid, Incumbent
Tricia Carr
Bond Election Details
The Bond Program is designed to manage and prepare for student enrollment growth at Bertram Elementary, manage increasing construction costs due to inflation, and provide capacity and flexibility in the District’s operating budget. It is comprised of two propositions.
Proposition A is for $23.9 million and focuses on facility projects and the purchase of buses in order to address the following priorities: safety and security, infrastructure, learning environment, and student growth.
Proposition B is for $5.76 million and focuses on athletics with the following projects: construction of a weight room that includes a baseball locker room and a girls soccer locker room, and turfing the Burnet Middle School athletic field to include a six lane track.
The Board of Trustees is projecting to lower the tax rate in August by .5 cents. Even with the passage of Prop A, Prop B, or both, BCISD will have the 2nd lowest tax rate in the area based on projections.