The Harris County Libertarian Party opposes the 2024 HISD Bond Issuance on principle and urges residents to vote against it this November. We believe in protecting individual rights and demand better, more innovative governance from HISD officials, along with fiscal responsibility. This bond will not accomplish any of that.

Here are key reasons why we Libertarians oppose the proposed $4.4 billion bond:

1. The “No Increased Tax” Myth - Politicians often mislead voters with claims of “no increased tax.” While they say there won’t be a tax rate hike, this doesn’t mean taxes won’t increase over time. Either home values will rise, leading to higher taxes, or values stagnate or fall, with rates going up to compensate. Remember TANSTAAFL, the first motto of the Libertarian Party: There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

2. The “What About the Children?” Appeal - Emotional appeals, like showing a distressed principal talking about rain in the classrooms, distract from the real issues. Yes, we need to address school problems, but why isn’t there enough funding now? The HISD board should be held accountable for a clear strategy to manage its budget and operations regardless of the outcome of this resolution.

3. “The State is Here to Help” Fallacy - The Texas state government has replaced our local elected board, which undermines local representation. This isn’t how democracy should work. When officials from afar make decisions for our community, it leads to worse outcomes. The idea that state intervention will improve our schools is misguided and leads to a lack of trust.  And as a pamphlet from the meeting said, “no trust, no bond”.

In conclusion, this bond proposal does not solve the underlying problems within HISD and will worsen tensions in our community. The Libertarian Party, along with the Harris County Republican and Democratic Parties, encourages voters to reject this measure until the real issues are addressed.

In Liberty,

Mike Coogan

Chair, Libertarian Party of Harris County