BELTON, Texas (KXXV) — Belton ISD is considering a new bond package to fund campus safety and renovation projects, and after launching community feedback sessions, some local business owners are voicing concerns about increased taxes.
- District Vision in Early Planning
Deputy Superintendent Michael Morgan explains the bond discussions have been underway for two years, focusing on safety enhancements, aging campuses, and programmatic updates. - Community Feedback Drives Development
“We’re trying to see which of these needs resonates with our community,” Morgan says, as the district holds input sessions before settling on a final bond scope. - Small Business Tax Burden Under Scrutiny
Retail owner Leila Valchar shares that property taxes continue to climb each year and weigh heavily on her costs. She hopes appraisal practices become more “friendly for small businesses.” - Public Engagement Ahead
Belton ISD assures no tax rate has been proposed, and that final bond amounts will reflect community priorities discussed in upcoming meetings. - Next Steps Toward Potential Ballot
A series of public forums this fall will shape the bond proposal, which is expected to be finalized and potentially placed before voters in an upcoming election.
Check out what the district has planned as of now:
Belton Independent School District is in the early stages of crafting a new bond package, aiming to address safety enhancements, aging facilities, and long-term programming needs across its campuses.
While no dollar figure has been finalized, the district is actively seeking input from community members—many of whom support improvements, but not without questions about the potential impact on local property taxes.
“We have some safety needs for our next phase of safety enhancements for our facilities,” said Michael Morgan, Deputy Superintendent of Belton ISD.
“We are planning for the next phase of programmatic needs and for our older campuses—what needs to be renovated and what the priorities are,” he said.
Morgan says the district has spent the last two years developing a long-term facilities master plan. The current round of public engagement is intended to ensure that proposed projects align with community expectations.
“We’re trying to see which of these needs resonates with our community and to get feedback on all the needs we discussed,” Morgan added.
Business Owners Feeling the Strain
One of the voices coming forward during the community input phase is Leila Valchar, a small business owner in Belton who says she’s already overwhelmed by her property tax bill—most of which, she says, goes to the school district.
“Belton ISD takes the most tax out of everything for me,” Valchar said. “I know it goes to pay for our kids and for the schools, and I support that, but every year I see it go up.”
Valchar owns a local retail store and says she’s taxed annually on all her unsold inventory, adding another layer of financial pressure. With a possible new bond in the pipeline, she hopes the district and appraisal office consider how increased tax burdens affect small businesses.
“I’m hoping they come up with a solution that is more friendly for small businesses because we are struggling,” she said.
Balancing Needs with Affordability
While a potential bond could bring much-needed improvements to aging campuses, it could also come with a property tax increase, a reality that district leaders acknowledge but haven’t quantified.
Because the proposal is still in development, Belton ISD has not provided a projected tax rate or final bond amount.
Instead, leaders say the focus right now is listening.
“We’re asking our community to help us prioritize,” Morgan said.
What Comes Next?
Belton ISD will host a series of public meetings, including on July 28, and in the coming months to gather more feedback. These sessions are open to all residents, including parents, taxpayers, business owners, and students.
The district plans to use this input to shape the final bond package, which could be presented to voters in an upcoming election.
For now, the message from the district is clear: nothing is set in stone, and community voices will help shape what happens next.
