Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bond issue? How does a bond issue work?
A bond issue is essentially similar to a mortgage. It is a way for a government body to “borrow” money for major projects that cannot be paid for in more direct ways. Bond issues are how the Calcasieu Parish School Board has traditionally financed school construction, expansion, and renovation.
Who is eligible to vote? Who will be paying?
The eligible voters are the residents of Bonding District 30, which is essentially the attendance zone of Sulphur High School. A map is available here on the CPSB website. This includes Cypress Cove, Frasch, W.T. Henning, Vincent Settlement, R.W. Vincent, E.K. Key, LeBlanc Middle, Lewis Middle, Sulphur 9th, and Sulphur High Main Campus. Maplewood Elementary and Middle Schools are in a different bonding district, but some families with students zoned to attend that school are actually zoned to vote in this bond election. Check the maps if you are unsure of your bonding district. The taxes would be levied on the assessed value of all residential property (after homestead exemption) and all commercial and industrial property including inventories. Businesses and industries pay at a higher rate than residences and they pay on much higher assessed values.
What is the process for determining projects to be completed at each school?
Appointed architects visit each school to meet with school administrators and other stakeholders to assess building needs and establish project estimates. Projects are reviewed for necessity and consistency. All estimates are added together to determine the total amount of the bond issue necessary.
What will this cost me?
All voters can utilize our Property Tax Calculator to see what this bond expense would be for their family. Monthly costs for some selected home values are listed below.
Home Value Monthly Cost
$75,000 $0.00
$150,000 $4.94
$225,000 $9.88
$300,000 $14.81
What is different in this bond proposal from the one proposed in November 2025?
Several projects were removed from the bond proposal attempted last November. Some of these projects will be funded by the district when funds are available, and other projects were simply removed. In addition, the district reduced the amount of money that will go towards the replacement of Sulphur High's turf. The bond includes partial payment for the turf, while the school will be responsible for fundraising the remaining portion. Other major projects impacted are listed below. The majority of the funding for these projects will come out of funds already designated for capital outlay across the district when those funds become available.
Sulphur High - Track Bleachers/Seating for 600 - estimated $500,000 to be covered by the district
Sulphur High - Cafeteria equipment - $100,000 to be covered by the district
Sulphur High - Building #3 will be partially demolished and not rebuilt. Not rebuilding it cuts the cost of this bond by several million dollars.
Sulphur High 9th - Pavilion over commons area - $640,000 to be covered by the district
LeBlanc Middle - Cafeteria equipment - $100,000 to be covered by the district
Lewis Middle - Cafeteria equipment - $100,000 to be covered by the district
Cypress Cove - Playground equipment - $100,000 to be covered by the district
E.K. Key - Playground equipment - $100,000 to be covered by the district
E.K. Key - Parking and Driveway - $165,000 to be covered by the district
E.K. Key - Cafeteria equipment - $100,000 to be covered by the district
Frasch - Playground equipment - $50,000 to be covered by the district
Frasch - Cafeteria equipment - $75,000 to be covered by the district
R.W. Vincent - Playground equipment - $100,000 to be covered by the district
R.W. Vincent - Cafeteria equipment - $100,000 to be covered by the district
Vincent Settlement - Parking and Driveway - $395,250 to be covered by the district
Vincent Settlement - Playground equipment - $100,000 to be covered by the district
W.T. Henning - Stacking Driveway - $249,375 to be covered by the district
W.T. Henning - Playground equipment - $100,000 to be covered by the district
W.T. Henning - Cafeteria equipment - $110,000 to be covered by the district
Why weren’t any of these projects covered in hurricane repairs?
While CPSB facilities did receive a large amount of damage during the hurricanes, FEMA only allows us to return the facilities to their original condition. Improvements or additions to existing buildings, or building new buildings would not be covered under hurricane repairs. Additions such as these are funded with bond issues.
My children attend private schools. How would this benefit me?
Even if your children attend private schools, passing the bond issue in District 30 will benefit you. Property values in an area increase as school values increase. Raising the property values in an area benefits everyone that lives in that bonding district. Additionally, CPSB facilities are occasionally utilized by private schools as well as CPSB students.
I don’t have any children who attend CPSB schools, nor do I have any connections to the district. How would this benefit me?
Improvements made to our schools benefit everyone in District 30. Better school facilities equate to increased property values for everyone in the area. Additionally, CPSB facilities are often used for events that are not sponsored by CPSB schools and serve the entire community.
What projects will relate to safety and security?
Several projects on this bond issue relate to safety and security. At several campuses, security door and glass upgrades will be implemented. These upgrades help to ensure that our campuses are as safe as possible for our students and staff.
Why are you proposing a new tax now? What happens if it fails?
Bond issues can only be called for voters to approve at set times of the year. District 30 has several improvements that need to be completed to make the educational experience of our students the best it can be. Major capital projects like building a ninth grade campus, adding additional buildings, parking and stack roads and other major renovations are funded through bond issues. If the bond issue fails, these projects will not be able to be completed.