Tesla JETI Application Survey
Community Survey: Tesla JETI Application
Lamar CISD is committed to providing the school community with clear information about matters that may affect the District and the taxpayers we serve. Tesla has submitted an application under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation (JETI) program for a proposed project located within Lamar CISD. As part of the process established by state law, the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing regarding the application on September 10, 2026.
Before that hearing, the Board of Trustees would like to hear directly from our community to ensure the understanding of the proposed project and the JETI process.
Understanding JETI
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JETI stands for the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation Act.
Following the expiration of the state’s former Chapter 313 economic development program on December 31, 2022, JETI became Texas’ new economic incentive program involving school districts.
Under JETI, qualifying companies making significant investments in Texas may apply for a temporary limitation on the taxable value of eligible property for a school district’s Maintenance & Operations (M&O) taxes.
A JETI agreement generally provides a 10-year M&O value limitation, with the company required to maintain a viable presence for three additional years beyond the limitation period.
Importantly, the qualifying property remains fully taxable for the District’s Interest & Sinking (I&S) taxes.
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A school district’s tax rate has two primary components:
Maintenance & Operations (M&O) taxes support the District’s day-to-day operations, including instruction, staffing, utilities and other operating expenses.
Interest & Sinking (I&S) taxes are used to repay voter-approved bonds that finance facilities and other eligible capital projects.
JETI treats these two portions of the school district tax base differently.
The value limitation applies to qualifying property for M&O purposes during the incentive period.
The property remains fully taxable for I&S purposes, meaning the additional taxable value may increase the District’s capacity to repay voter-approved debt or potentially reduce the I&S tax rate needed to meet those obligations.
The Proposed Tesla Project
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Tesla has submitted a JETI application requesting a temporary limitation on the taxable value of eligible property associated with a proposed manufacturing project within Lamar CISD.
The application identifies the proposed project, referred to as Project Crystal Sun, as an approximately $10.1 billion capital investment, including approximately $1.5 billion in real property and $8.6 billion in personal property.
Tesla's application estimates the average value of new property associated with the project at approximately $1.8 billion over the period analyzed in its Economic Benefit Statement.
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According to its JETI application, Tesla is evaluating the development of a solar cell manufacturing facility in Fort Bend County within Lamar CISD.
The proposed facility would manufacture photovoltaic solar cells and/or assembled solar modules, which are components used to convert sunlight into electricity. The proposed facility is expected to include industrial buildings containing production lines, supporting utility infrastructure, warehousing for raw materials and finished products, and related site improvements.
The application anticipates the proposed facility becoming commercially operational in the first quarter of 2029.
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No. The Lamar CISD Board of Trustees does not approve Tesla's purchase of private property or determine whether Tesla may develop the property.
However, the Board does have a required and independent decision-making role in the JETI process. A JETI agreement involving eligible property within Lamar CISD cannot move forward without approval by the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees.
Tesla's application indicates that the company is still evaluating the Fort Bend County/Lamar CISD site as part of a competitive site-selection process.
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No. According to its application, Tesla is evaluating the feasibility of constructing the proposed manufacturing facility at multiple locations and has not made a final site-selection decision.
Tesla states that another viable site outside Texas remains under consideration. The company identifies the proposed JETI value limitation, along with other economic factors and potential incentives, as considerations in determining whether the Fort Bend County/Lamar CISD location is competitive with the alternative site.
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According to Tesla’s JETI application, the proposed project is expected to create approximately 9,712 permanent, full-time jobs when fully operational, with an estimated annual payroll of approximately $1.3 billion. The project is also expected to support approximately 1,147 temporary construction jobs at peak construction.
The application identifies $121,953 as the applicable Fort Bend County average annual wage for the project’s industry classification and $134,148 as 110% of that average annual wage. Tesla states that permanent positions associated with the project are expected to provide wages consistent with regional manufacturing benchmarks.
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According to Tesla’s application, the project is anticipated to move through construction and hiring in phases, with commercial operations expected to begin in the first quarter of 2029.
Tesla’s employment projections anticipate construction activity during 2026–2028, followed by permanent hiring beginning in 2029. The application projects permanent employment increasing over several years and reaching the projected 9,712 full-time positions by 2033.
Financial Impact
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If a JETI agreement is ultimately approved, the taxable value of qualifying property would be limited for M&O tax purposes during the applicable incentive period.
The taxable value during the limitation period is established under state law and may be either 50% or 25% of qualifying property value, depending on whether the project is located in an Opportunity Zone. This would be determined by the comptroller and the governor’s office.
During the qualifying construction period, the taxable value of eligible property may be $0 for M&O purposes.
The property remains fully taxable for I&S purposes, which support the repayment of voter-approved District debt.
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JETI is significantly different from the former Chapter 313 program in this area.
State law prohibits a company from making payments to the District under a JETI agreement other than taxes.
The company does pay a $30,000 application fee to the District, as established by statute.
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Generally, no.
Under the Texas school finance system, additional M&O property tax revenue is generally offset by a corresponding reduction in state aid. For that reason, the M&O impact of a JETI project is generally considered revenue neutral for the school district, although there may be a relatively small gain associated with certain components of the school finance formula.
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Yes. Qualifying property remains fully taxable for I&S purposes.
The addition of substantial taxable property to the District’s I&S tax base could increase the District’s capacity to repay voter-approved debt or potentially reduce the I&S tax rate necessary to meet those debt obligations.
The specific financial impact of the proposed Tesla project would depend on the final project value, eligible property, terms of any agreement and other factors.
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A JETI agreement by itself does not establish the Lamar CISD tax rate.
The District’s tax rate is determined through a separate annual process and is affected by multiple factors, including property values, state school finance requirements and voter-approved debt.
Because JETI property remains fully taxable for I&S purposes, additional taxable value may affect the tax base supporting the District’s voter-approved debt.
The District will provide additional financial information as the application proceeds and the potential impact can be more precisely evaluated.
Approval Process
How Does the JETI Approval Process Work?
A JETI application moves through several stages of review and consideration involving the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the school district and the Governor.
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The company submits its JETI application directly to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
The Comptroller reviews the application for completeness and notifies the required parties when the application is considered complete. Following that determination, the Comptroller has up to 60 days to make a recommendation regarding the application.
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Following a favorable recommendation from the Comptroller, the Governor and Lamar CISD each have 30 days to determine whether they are agreeable to entering into a JETI agreement with the applicant.
As part of the District’s process, Lamar CISD must hold a public hearing on the application. Notice of the public hearing must be posted at least 15 days before the hearing.
For Tesla’s application, the Lamar CISD public hearing is scheduled for:
September 10, 2026
5:30 PM
Lamar CISD Administration Building
4810 Avenue I, Rosenberg, TX 77471 -
Following their respective reviews, the Governor and Lamar CISD must notify the appropriate parties of their determinations within the timeframe established by state law.
The Lamar CISD Board of Trustees has an independent decision-making role in this process.
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If the required parties agree to proceed, the process moves into the agreement phase.
A JETI agreement is a three-party agreement among the applicant, the Governor and Lamar CISD.
The District’s approval is required. The Governor cannot override a decision by the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees not to approve an agreement.
The JETI framework allows up to one year following the Comptroller’s recommendation for an agreement to be approved.
Has Lamar CISD already approved Tesla’s JETI agreement?
No. Tesla has submitted an application, but submission of an application is not the same as approval of an agreement.
The application must proceed through the review and consideration process established by state law, which includes consideration by the Texas Comptroller, the Governor and Lamar CISD.
Can the Board of Trustees vote against the agreement?
Yes. The Lamar CISD Board of Trustees must approve a JETI agreement before the District can enter into it.
If the Board votes not to approve the agreement, the Governor cannot override the District’s decision.
What is the purpose of the September 10 public hearing?
The public hearing is a required step in Lamar CISD’s consideration of the JETI application.
It provides an opportunity for information regarding the application to be presented publicly as the District determines whether it is willing to move forward in the JETI process.
The Board of Trustees would also like to understand what questions members of the Lamar CISD community have before the hearing. That is why the District is inviting community members to submit questions in advance through the JETI Community Questions Survey.
Information gathered through the survey will help Lamar CISD identify topics requiring additional explanation and prepare information for the September 10 public hearing.
The community survey is not a vote on the Tesla project or JETI application and does not replace the formal public-comment process associated with the public hearing.
Why is Lamar CISD asking for community questions?
The Board of Trustees wants to understand what our community would like to know about the proposed project and the JETI process.
Questions submitted through this survey will help the District identify areas where additional explanation may be helpful and prepare information for the September 10 public hearing.
The survey is intended to gather questions and identify topics requiring additional explanation. It is not a vote or scientific opinion poll and will not be used to determine community support for or opposition to the proposed project.
Questions may be grouped by topic, and frequently submitted questions may be addressed together through additional FAQs, District communications or information presented in connection with the September 10 public hearing.
Submit Your Questions
After reviewing the information above, please use the survey below to tell us what you would like to know about the proposed Tesla project, the JETI program, or Lamar CISD’s role in the process.
The survey will remain open through [DATE/TIME].