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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.

(Example for a $40M Bond Issue) 

  1. If voters approve, borrowing the money is authorized as well as the levy of a property tax for 20 years. 

  1. After the approval, CPSB will sell $40M in bonds and put the money in a separate account dedicated specifically for the construction associated with the bond issue. 

  1. Projects will be bid and completed in phases to maximize efficiency and minimize disruption and pricing.   

  1. Taxes are collected over the next 20 years to pay off the principal and interest on the bonds. 
    If the total assessed values increase, the tax paid by each individual can actually decrease.  The “tax rate” for property taxes is called a “millage” and it is charged on a percent of the assessed value of the property. 

Who is eligible to vote?  Who will be paying? 
The eligible voters are the residents of Bonding District 34, which includes Barbe Elementary, Barbe High, College Oaks Elementary, Dolby Elementary, Nelson Elementary, Positive Connections, Prien Lake Elementary, S.J. Welsh Middle, and St. John Elementary.  Maps are available here on the CPSB website. The taxes would be levied on the assessed value of all residential property (after homestead exemption) and all commercial and industrial property including inventories. This includes apartment complexes in the area. 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?
An appointed architect visited all nine schools 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                                        $5.94

$225,000                                        $11.88

$300,000                                        $17.81

Why should I pay for buildings to hold students who are from out-of-zone? 
It is a common misconception that the people of South Lake Charles are paying for students who live outside of Bonding District 34.  To address this directly: Of the nearly 6000 students in South Lake Charles schools, there are 609 currently transferred in because of the majority-to-minority transfer rule. That number has decreased in recent years, and those figures are included below. 

Changes in Student Count Since 2019 - District 34    
(M/M = students out-of-zone due to majority-to-minority rule)   
School Name 2019 Count M/M Count M/M %   2025 Count M/M Count M/M%
Barbe High  2002 313 15.6%   1879 236 12.6%
S.J. Welsh Middle 1318 275 20.9%   1069 151 14.1%
St. John Elem 803 86 10.7%   677 45 6.7%
Barbe Elem 243 0 0.0%   191 0 0.0%
College Oaks Elem 270 0 0.0%   257 0 0.0%
Dolby Elem 343 9 2.6%   315 29 9.2%
Nelson Elem 764 93 12.2%   764 80 10.5%
Prien Lake Elem 741 175 23.6%   668 67 10.0%
Total 6484 952 14.7%   5820 609 10.5%


In addition, the number of students being transported at CPSB's expense due to majority-to-minority has decreased over the last several years. Those numbers are included below. 

School Year # of Students
22-23 563
23-24 552
24-25 381
25-26 323


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 34 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. Specifically in District 34, many private school students are served at CPSB locations through the CPSB Gifted/Talented Program. 

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 34.  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 camera upgrades will be implemented.  These upgrades help to ensure that our campuses are as safe as possible for our students and staff.  

What will happen to the Weaver Park ball fields?
The Calcasieu Parish School Board does own this property. The current baseball fields will be relocated to property the city owns on Weaver Road south of Country Club Road.

If this bond passes, will construction at Positive Connections cause traffic issues on Weaver Road? If so, what are the plans?
If the bond in District 34 passes, improvements at Positive Connectionis should not cause traffic issues.  Plans for improvement at Positive Connections include renovations to the main building as well as parking lot repairs.  Neither of these projects should impact traffic on Weaver Road.

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 34 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.