Northside residents are being urged to head to the polls Saturday to vote on School Bond 2007, a $692.67 million proposal that would respond to surging enrollment as well as needs at existing schools throughout the District.

NISD enrollment is growing by about 4,000 students a year and is expected to hit 100,000 within the next five years, which means the district needs more than 900 new classrooms to keep up with the growth. Just last month, Northside surpassed Austin ISD to become the fourth-largest school district in Texas.

School Bond 2007 also addresses needs at older schools and includes funds for new science labs, new kitchens, upgraded libraries and new roofs at various campuses. Other highlights include:

* Twelve new schools, including one high school, two middle schools, and nine elementary schools

* Classroom additions at existing schools

* Land for future schools

* Air conditioning for middle and high school gyms

* Security cameras for all middle schools

* Equipment for safer playgrounds

* Up-to-date technology for classrooms

* New buses

If the bond is approved, the average Northside homeowner would see a reduction in property tax next year, say NISD officials. The decrease is a result, in part, to a legislative mandate that lowered the maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate of school districts across the state. In addition, Northside leaders have reduced the District’s budget to keep the tax rate low, and a booming business community is relieving the tax burden for homeowners.

Senior citizens whose tax rates are frozen will benefit from the lower tax rate. Another proposition will would limit the amount of school property taxes imposed on seniors and disabled property owners.

For more information about the tax impact of School Bond 2007, and for a detailed list of proposed projects, visit bond.nisd.net.

Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. A list of precinct locations can be found on Northside’s School Bond 2007 web site by visiting bond.nisd.net and clicking on “voting,” or by visiting the Bexar County elections department Web site at www.bexar.org/elections/.