Clarification on school bond question

As Albany ISD prepares for a May bond election, questions have surfaced regarding whether Shackelford County could use revenue from the new data center project to help fund construction of a new school campus.

The Albany ISD Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously to place a $26 million bond on the May ballot to fund a new, consolidated K–12 campus. The proposal follows months of study by the district’s Long Range Facility Planning Committee, which concluded that existing school facilities are aging, no longer functional, and not financially sustainable. The committee recommended a single-campus design as the most cost-effective and secure option for the district’s future needs.

If approved by voters, the bond would fund construction of a new campus with separate wings for elementary, junior high and high school students, shared common areas, updated technology, improved security features and storm shelters built to current standards. Construction is projected to begin in early 2027, with the campus opening in fall 2028.

In recent days, some residents have asked whether Shackelford County could redirect revenue from the new data center toward the school project. While the county is expected to receive approximately $10 million annually through a tax abatement agreement tied to the data center, those funds cannot be used for school construction.

Under Texas law, Shackelford County and Albany ISD are separate taxing entities. County funds, including any revenue associated with the data center, are legally restricted to county purposes and cannot be transferred to the school district. School construction must be funded through voter-approved bonds or other revenue sources legally available to the district.

District officials said the clarification is intended to address confusion as voters consider the bond proposal ahead of the May election.