GOVERNMENT 7 Houston bond propositions would fund public safety, parks
Voters will be asked to weigh in on seven separate propositions during the Nov. 8 election. PROPOSITIONS
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
Projects: renovations, replacements and maintenance projects for re and police departments PROPOSITION A Public safety Projects: improvements to swimming pools, park facilities, salaries and the Hermann Park Conservancy PROPOSITION B Parks Projects: funding for the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care, including a new facility PROPOSITION C Animal care Projects: renovate facilities that provide health-related services, salary recovery PROPOSITION D Public health
PROPOSITION E General permanent improvements Dollar amount: $29M PROPOSITION F Libraries Dollar amount: $26M Projects: general maintenance and improvements PROPOSITION G Solid waste Dollar amount: $6M
“The bond allocation will fully fund projects currently included in the ... plan,” Turner said. “These are critical projects located in every council district throughout the city.” Among the projects labeled “future bond election” in Houston’s plan are more than $70 million for emergency response vehicles; $23 million to replace or renovate
In addition to races at the local and statewide level that will be on ballots this November, Houston voters will be given the chance to vote on seven bond propositions that would help fund city needs, including police department maintenance projects and the expansion of a city-run animal shelter. If all seven bonds
Dollar amount: $277M
Projects: City Hall and annex structure repairs, exterior waterproo ng, renovations to the water system and replacement of sanitary lines
re stations; and about $20 million in salary recovery across the police, re, solid waste, public health and parks departments. About $905,000 would go toward renovations at the West End Multi-
“THESE ARE CRITICAL PROJECTS LOCATED IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.” SYLVESTER TURNER, HOUSTON MAYOR
Dollar amount: $60M
pass, it would give the city the ability to sell roughly $478 million in bonds to investors, which would be paid back with interest over a longer term. The bonds would not
Dollar amount: $47M
require an increase in property taxes, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. Voters have the ability to choose which of the seven bonds to support. The largest bond, which will show up on ballots as Proposition A, would provide $277 million toward public safety, including for renovations of police and re stations as well as new vehicles. Other referendums would support parks, animal care, public health, libraries, the city’s solid waste department and general improvements to city facilities. The city has not released a detailed project list for the bonds, but o cials said they would in part be used to fund roughly $194 million in projects in Houston’s 2023-27 capital improvements plan but have not yet been funded.
Projects: roof replacements, environmental services, salary recovery, locker room upgrades, concrete
Service health center on Heights Boulevard, while $255,000 would help renovate the Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center in southwest Houston. Another $500,000 would go to the Hermann Park Conservancy. Conservancy CEO Doreen Stoller said CIP funding helps the group with general needs at Hermann Park, including the repair of broken infrastructure, such as mechanical systems, lighting and leaks in the ponds in the Japanese Garden. The remaining $274 million would be used for projects for 2028 and beyond, city o cials said. This would help future councils by increasing spending exibility to avoid having to schedule future smaller bonds,
and pavement repairs, and a facility conditions assessment
Dollar amount: $33M
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY IMPACT
according to Will Jones, Houston’s interim chief business o cer and director of nance. Abbie Kamin, who represents District C on the Houston City Council, said there are other needed improvements that are not in the current CIP, including renovations to the West Grey Metropolitan Multi- Service Center. “MMSC is the primary location
citywide where families and those with disabilities can access city programs and support,” she said. “It is in desperate need of renovation, and I will continue to push hard for it.” The city most recently called bond elections in 2017. Informational public hearings are slated to take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 and at 9 a.m. Oct. 19 at City Hall, 901 Bagby St., Houston.
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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