2 0 2 2 L O C A L V O T E R G U I D E
Risingvalues Over the last 10 years, Live Oak has seen rapid population and development growth, leading the city to focus on capital improvement projects. With increased taxable value, the city obtains more revenue which can pay o debt and fund projects.
Taxable value 2012-2021
Projected taxable value 2022-2032
$2.18B
$2.5B
$2.05B
$1.93B
$1.82B
$1.72B
$2B
$1.62B
$1.58B
$2.11B
$1.36B
$1.99B
$1.88B
$1.21B
$1B $1.5B
$1.77B
$1.67B
$968M
$1.58B
$856M
$1.48B
$1.27B
$1.10B
$915M
$500M
0
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
2022
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032
2012
SOURCE: CITY OF LIVE OAK COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
NOTE: VALUES AFTER 2021 ARE END OF FY PROJECTIONS BASED ON 3% GROWTH EACH YEAR.
through tax revenue and allow the city to have an anticipated decrease in the I&S tax rate over the bond lifetime, according to city nancial advisors. Back in 2014, voters approved a bond formultiple cityprojects, includ- ing street repairs and enhancements. According to Kowalik, debt related to this bond will be paid in coming years, with a large portion estimated to come o the city’s budget in FY 2024- 25, resulting in a decreasing tax rate for residents starting after FY 2023-24. “In the next few years, we have some debt coming o of our books that will be paid out,” Kowalik said.
The second priority targets connec- tor streets, including Forest Blu , Pal- isades Drive and Gateway Boulevard. “The city has been talking about the need to rehabilitate some of the streets,” Wagster said. “Primarily, we have been looking at the arterial and collector streets. Those are our higher tra c roads and higher volume roads, and they are all showing signs of needing repair.” With remaining funds, city o cials hope to address damages to residen- tial streets, including Sage Oak, Bres- sani Way and Cool Sands Street. While these streets are listed in the bond brochure, the city notes that these are examples for potential upgrades, and speci c designs and work will come after the bond pro- posal passes. Estimates have not yet been provided. According to Wagster, projects funded through the bond if it passes would ideally start within a year. “We would like to see projects start within a year,” Wagster said. “Part of that is having the engineers get the plans and speci cations together, then the funds and contract would
“So, those 6 pennies that initially come on will quickly start being decreased. In about six years, those pennies will pretty much come o .” Should the bond pass, Live Oak anticipates issuing debt in August, beginning projects within the next year and completing them in three to ve years, Kowalik said. Until the election, the city plans to spread bond information through council meetings, the city’s website and by answering any questions. “We are being as conservative as we can with the money, and we are hoping to spend it as soon as possi- ble if the bond passes,” Martel said. “Looking at the tax rates with the bond [debt] falling o from 2014, we are also being sensitive to the tax rate that the residents are paying. Beyond that, it is the voter’s decision, and we are more than happy to answer ques- tions they may have.” Potential projects Wagster said Live Oak has identi ed three arterial thoroughfares that are a priority for bond spending: O’Connor, Toepperwein and Judson roads.
need to be done. So, hopefully it starts within a year, and, possibly, it can begin a little sooner than that.” If approved, bond-funded projects are expected to be complete within 3-5 years, so long as there are nomajor delays, Wagster said. With the constant increase in mate- rial and construction work, the city has anticipated additional costs in the estimates and is con dent in their numbers, Wagster said. “Our estimates are within the last three months,” Wagster said. “A lot of road work is tied directly to the cost of diesel fuel, which is why we would like to get these projects done as quickly as possible. The sooner we can get these projects underway, we can get construction costs closer to what we have today as opposed to what they might be in the future.”
WEWANT OUR VOTERS TOHAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEYNEED, SO THEY CANMAKE THE EDUCATEDVOTE FOR THEMSELVES, GLEN MARTEL, CITY MANAGER
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
Additional election information can be found on Page 12 .
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NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION • APRIL 2022
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