HB 103 Bond, Tax, and Project Database Glossary

HB103 Bond, Tax, and Bond Information Database Glossary

Ballot Language - Language adopted by the governing body. (403.702 (1)(A), 403.702 (2), 403.702 (3)(B))

Bond/Debt Type - A bond, warrant, certificate of obligation, or other evidence of indebtedness owed by a taxing unit that:
(i)  is payable from property taxes in installments over a period of more than one year, not budgeted for payment from maintenance and operations funds, and secured by a pledge of property taxes; and
(ii)  meets one of the following requirements:
(a)  has been approved at an election;
(b)  includes self-supporting debt;
(c)  evidences a loan under a state or federal financial assistance program;
(d)  is issued for designated infrastructure;
(e)  is a refunding bond;
(f)  is issued in response to an emergency under Section 1431.015, Government Code;
(g)  is issued for renovating, improving, or equipping existing buildings or facilities;
(h)  is issued for vehicles or equipment; or
(i)  is issued for a project under Chapter 311, Tax Code, or Chapter 222, Transportation Code, that is located in a reinvestment zone created under one of those chapters; or
(B)  a payment made under contract to secure indebtedness of a similar nature issued by another political subdivision on behalf of the taxing unit.

Bond Election Result - Was the ballot proposition carried or defeated. (403.702 (1)(C))

County(s) Taxing Unit on Ballot Located In - Primary County for Taxing Unit. if your taxing unit has locations in multiple counties use the headquarters county.

Description of any Increase in I&S Tax Rate Increase - Adjusted I&S rate, if applicable, for funding of debts taken by taxing entity and how this increase will be used. (403.702 (1)(F))

Difference Between Adopted and Voter-Approved Tax Rate (tax rate/$100) - The difference (numerical) in approved tax rate and the previously adopted tax rate. (403.702 (2)(C))

Estimate Minimum Dollar Amount Required Spent for Debt Service (dollar amount) - Estimated minimum dollar amount to pay debt service costing taxing entity over life of debt. (403.702 (1)(G))

Election Data – Statutorily required data to be reported for bond election held on one of the uniform election dates of May or November. These are the certified vote counts released by election officials after all valid ballots have been tabulated. The data to be reported includes the ballot language, votes for and against the proposition.

General Obligation Bonds - The issuance of general obligation (GO) bonds involves a governmental entity pledging its full faith and credit and taxing power to repay investors for funds borrowed to finance public capital projects, such as infrastructure, and requires voter approval through a bond election before the bonds can be sold. The principal and interest are paid from the proceeds of property taxes that the municipality is legally allowed to levy to meet its obligations.

Historical Data – The reporting of all bonds by any qualified taxing unit as defined by Tax Code 1.04(12) issued by each taxing unit for the 2015 through 2025 tax years. This also applies to all bonds voted on and approved by the voters prior to 2015, which the bonds are still active but not year issued or are now being paid on.

List of Proposed Projects to Be Funded (separated by project) - Projects that will be financed by funds secured through bond election. (403.702 (1)(D))

Issuance of Bonds – A series of bonds may be issued for each industrial project or medical project. Any projects may be combined in a single series of bonds if the governing body considers the combination to be in the best interest of the issuer, but each project shall be considered separately with respect to this subsection and Subchapter C. (See Government Code, Section 1433.061(a))

Preceding Year Tax Rate (tax rate/$100) - The tax rate applicable to the preceding fiscal year of taxing entity. (403.702 (2)(D))

Projected I&S Fund Tax Rate (As Applicable) - A property tax levy used to pay for a government entity's debt, similar to bonds. (403.702 (1)(B))

Public Improvement District Bonds – A financing tool that allows local governments to fund public improvements within a specific area. Property owners in the designated district pay an additional assessment (similar to a fee or tax) to support projects that directly benefit their neighborhood or development—like roads, parks, or landscaping. These bonds are repaid through special assessments collected from the property owners within the PID who directly benefit from the improvements, not by the city or county as a whole.

Revenue Bonds – These are a debt security issued by a public entity to fund a specific project, like a toll road, power plant, or hospital, and is repaid solely from the revenue generated by that project rather than from taxes or the general taxing power of the issuer. These bonds are considered special obligations, as their repayment is tied directly to the income and financial viability of the financed project, providing a direct connection between the investment and a revenue-generating asset.

Taxing Unit – Has the “meaning assigned by Section 1.04, Tax Code” (See Government Code, 403.701). According to Tax Code, 1.04(12), a “Taxing unit means a county, an incorporated city or town (including a home-rule city), a school district, a special district or authority (including a junior college district, a hospital district, a district created by or pursuant to the Water Code, a mosquito control district, a fire prevention district, or a noxious weed control district), or any other political unit of this state, whether created by or pursuant to the constitution or a local, special, or general law, that is authorized to impose and is imposing ad valorem taxes on property even if the governing body of another political unit determines the tax rate for the unit or otherwise governs its affairs.” (See Tax Code, Section 1.04(12) https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TX/htm/TX.1.htm)

Taxing Unit's Current Adopted Rate (tax rate/$100) - Taxing Unit's adopted tax rate for the current tax year. (403.702 (2)(A))

Taxing Unit Name on Ballot - Name of Local Government as it appears on ballot.

Taxing Unit's Voter-Approval Rate (tax rate/$100) - "Voter-approval tax rate" means a taxing unit's voter-approval tax rate in the applicable preceding tax year, as adopted by the taxing unit during the applicable preceding tax year, less the unused increment rate for that preceding tax year. "Voter-approval tax rate" means a rate expressed in dollars per $100 of taxable value calculated according to the following applicable formula: (A)  for a special taxing unit: VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE = (NO-NEW-REVENUE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE x 1.08) + CURRENT DEBT RATE; or (B)  for a taxing unit other than a special taxing unit: VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE = (NO-NEW-REVENUE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE x 1.035) + (CURRENT DEBT RATE + UNUSED INCREMENT RATE). (403.702 (2)(B))

Uniform Election Dates - A specific, mandated day on which local political subdivisions, such as cities, school districts, and water districts, hold their general or special elections. This system was established by state law to ensure consistency and improve voter accessibility. The specific days are: The first Saturday in May and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. 

Votes Against - Total number of votes cast against the ballot initiative. (403.702 (1)(C))

Votes in Support - Total number of votes cast in favor of the ballot initiative. (403.702 (1)(C))

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Need to contact our division

Frank Alvarez
Transparency & Property Tax Incentives Team Lead, CPM
512-936-9231
Frank.Alvarez@cpa.texas.gov

Brittany Henry
Transparency Senior Analyst
512-475-5667
Brittany.Henry@cpa.texas.gov

Dan Knight
Transparency Analyst
512-475-0248
Dan.Knight@cpa.texas.gov

If you have questions or need assistance in accessing the database or submitting your report, Please contact the Transparency Team:

Transparency Hotline: 844-519-5676 transparency@cpa.texas.gov

If you have any questions regarding an entity’s Bonds, Imposed Taxes, Projects or Ballot Initiatives you will need to contact the entity directly, since Comptroller staff are not able to advise in these matters.