May vs. November: Senate Bill 1494, Education Code § 11.059, and Auditing Katy ISD's Election Costs

May vs. November: video

What changed or what the rule says

Senate Bill 1494, passed by the 89th Legislature, amended Texas Election Code § 41.0052(a) to let governing bodies of general political subdivisions that hold non-November elections move to the November uniform election date in odd-numbered years, with a statutory cutoff of December 31, 2025. School boards operate under a distinct statute. Under Texas Education Code § 11.059(e), an independent school district board of trustees may adopt a resolution changing the length of trustee terms to align with November elections through December 31, 2030, a provision that remains in statute until January 1, 2036. School districts are also not limited to odd-numbered years; they can elect trustees across even years, odd years, or both depending on term structures. Texas law establishes that trustees serve three- or four-year terms. Under § 11.059(b), districts with three-year terms, like Katy ISD's current 2-2-3 structure, must hold elections annually. Under § 11.059(c), districts with four-year terms hold elections biennially, alternating roughly half the board in a 3-4 seat cycle, which cuts the number of required election administrations in half. Two cost rules also matter. Under Texas Election Code § 31.100(d) and 1 Texas Administrative Code § 81.131(h), when a political subdivision contracts with a county election officer for a joint election, the county's general supervision fee is capped at 10% of the total contract amount. And under Texas Election Code Chapters 31 and 271, fixed operational costs in joint elections, such as voting machines, central count tabulation, and poll workers, are pro-rated and shared across all participating local entities on that ballot.

Why this matters to Katy ISD

Katy ISD spans three separate counties: Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller. In a November joint election, the district must execute three separate interlocal agreements, each with its own cost-allocation formula, polling place matrix, and 10% statutory administrative fee. When early projections suggested moving to November could cost approximately $350,000 more, those figures relied heavily on data from the November 2020 presidential election. That cycle was executed during peak COVID-19 protocols, incurring extraordinary, non-standard costs for hazard pay, personal protective equipment, and emergency sanitation that do not reflect routine elections today. The classroom connection is direct: standalone May elections force Katy ISD to absorb 100% of equipment programming, polling place staffing, and security costs. Capturing recurring operational savings in election administration directly preserves local Maintenance and Operations funds for teacher compensation and student academic support.

Where Katy ISD excels

Katy ISD operates an organized, professional election administration team that reliably coordinates standalone May elections across the district's sprawling boundaries, ensuring smooth operations, clear ballot access, and prompt local returns. For its May elections, the district strategically deploys polling sites at accessible high schools and junior highs across the district, so every major neighborhood quadrant has a nearby, familiar campus location to cast a ballot. And when entering into shared civic agreements, whether for joint city elections or utility easements, Katy ISD's administrative teams have a strong track record of protecting district legal interests and ensuring local taxpayers are not overbilled.

What I would watch as a trustee

I would watch four things. First, auditing current interlocal quotes: directing district administration to solicit formal, non-binding cost quotes from the election administrators of Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller counties based on recent non-presidential cycles, replacing outdated COVID-19 assumptions with contemporary data. Second, examining regional precedents: reviewing peer district contracts, such as Houston ISD's centralized November odd-year elections in Harris County and Fort Bend ISD's recent transition from May to November, to evaluate actual pro-rated cost sheets and fee structures. Third, comparing term length efficiencies: exploring whether a biennial 3-4 seat cycle under four-year terms offers greater long-term fiscal stability and taxpayer savings by eliminating two out of every four district election cycles. Fourth, fiduciary accountability: fulfilling the call raised during the October 26, 2026 board meeting public comment period to replace assumptions with verified, line-by-line financial accounting before making permanent governance decisions.

What this does not mean

It does not mean the door is closed for Katy ISD. While Senate Bill 1494 set a December 31, 2025 deadline for general political subdivisions, Texas Education Code § 11.059(e) specifically gives independent school boards the statutory authority to adopt transition resolutions through December 31, 2030. It also does not mean November elections automatically cost more or less. Standalone May elections require Katy ISD to bear 100% of costs alone, while November joint elections split fixed costs among dozens of entities but add county administrative fees across three jurisdictions. Only a contemporary audit can determine the net financial difference. And it does not mean school board elections become partisan: under Texas law, independent school district trustee elections remain non-partisan regardless of whether they appear on a spring ballot or a November general election ballot.