Voters go for the concrete
No to schools; yes to new roads
Voters defeat construction plans in Spring ISD; Montgomery OKs $160 million bond
Sept. 12, 2005
By RUTH RENDON and KIM JACKSON
Copyright 2005
Houston Chronicle
Voters in several Houston-area communities defeated two school bond proposals and approved a road bond issue at the polls Saturday in a series of suburban ballot initiatives.
SPRING ISD
A $385 million bond election was soundly turned down by voters.
• Proposition 1: Defeated 4,595 to 1,741, it called for $269.6 million for the construction of six elementary schools with a capacity of 800 students at each; two middle schools for 1,200 students each; a natatorium; a transportation and maintenance center; and renovations and additions to a warehouse facility on Kuykendahl.
The money also would have gone toward the purchase of land for 11 more schools, including eight elementary schools, one middle school and a high school, and a transportation and maintenance center.
• Proposition 2: Voters also said no — 4,606 to 1,748 — to spending $91.2 million for the construction of a 25,000-square-foot auditorium at Spring High School and 52 new buses, as well as new roofs, heating and air-conditioning systems, lighting and fire protection systems at all schools.
• Proposition 3: Defeated 5,062 to 1,289, it called for laptop computers for all high school students; classroom computers and portable wireless labs for elementary use; pilot programs of personal computing devices for elementary and middle schools and upgrades to infrastructure. The proposition carried a price tag of $24.2 million.
Bond foes, the Homeowners Against Spring ISD Bond Propositions Inc., said the school district is not spending the existing budget money wisely.
Another round of bond debt, the group said, would send the district's current property tax rate of $1.87 per $100 property valuation even higher.
"We are voting 'no' to create our own property tax relief," said Tom Matthews, spokesman for the group.
Another group of residents calling themselves the Parents Advancing Spring Schools said the district's rapid growth rate requires the need for new schools, buses and technology.
"If we don't build new schools outlined in the bond issue, we will have to put the projected 7,500 students expected in the next four years in existing classrooms and portable buildings," said Mike Curry, co-chairman of PASS.
If voters had approved all three propositions on the ballot, the impact on property taxes on an average home in the district, which is valued at about $108,000, would be an additional $95 in 2005-06; $212 in 2006-07 and $69 in 2007-08.
PEARLAND
Voters of this Brazoria County community approved a measure to freeze property taxes for senior residents and the disabled. The proposal passed 2,278 to 203.
"Most seniors can't afford the increases in our taxes and property values," said Alma Nolan, 82, who spearheaded the petition calling for the election. "The tax situation may force many seniors out of their houses where they have lived for the past 50 years."
Opponents said a tax freeze is not warranted because the City Council in March increased the city's homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 for those at least 65 years old and the disabled.
The measure will take effect when tax bills are mailed in the fall of 2006.
Pearland's current tax rate is 69 cents per $100 property valuation. The City Council is voting on lowering the rate by two cents later this month.
MAGNOLIA
A proposal to give the City Council the authority to sell the city's natural gas utility distribution system, which provides natural gas to residents, passed 52 to 7.
Mayor Jimmy Thornton said the city has been losing hundreds of thousands of dollars for several years trying to operate its own natural gas system. He said selling it to a major utility company would be more cost-effective for the city and its residents.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
A $160 million road bond measure intended to speed up improvements on major thoroughfares in the fast-growing county was approved 2,418 to 1,030.
The package will allow the county to be the first to participate in a new state road financing program, called "pass-through toll." The county can pay for road projects up front and later receive reimbursement from the state based on the number of vehicles that use the roads.
The measure includes $100 million to expand FM 1488, FM 1485, FM 1484 and FM 1314 from two to four lanes and build a direct connection from Texas 242 to Interstate 45. The remaining $60 million is earmarked for local roads.
County officials said taxpayers can expect to see a 2-cent increase in the current tax rate of 49.63 cents per $100 valuation. For the owner of a $100,000 home, the tax bill would increase by $20 annually.
ROYAL ISD
Voters in the Royal school district in Waller County defeated two propositions of a $31.1 million bond issue.
• Proposition 1: Defeated 235-166, it called for $29.8 million to build a new high school and make other improvements to school facilities.
• Proposition 2 : Voters said no, 210-185, to spending $1.3 million to pay debt in the district's maintenance and operation budget.
Chronicle reporters Eric Hanson, Renee C. Lee and Zen T.C. Zheng contributed to this report.
ruth.rendon@chron.com kimberlye.jackson@chron.com
Houston Chronicle: www.chron.com
Voters defeat construction plans in Spring ISD; Montgomery OKs $160 million bond
Sept. 12, 2005
By RUTH RENDON and KIM JACKSON
Copyright 2005
Houston Chronicle
Voters in several Houston-area communities defeated two school bond proposals and approved a road bond issue at the polls Saturday in a series of suburban ballot initiatives.
SPRING ISD
A $385 million bond election was soundly turned down by voters.
• Proposition 1: Defeated 4,595 to 1,741, it called for $269.6 million for the construction of six elementary schools with a capacity of 800 students at each; two middle schools for 1,200 students each; a natatorium; a transportation and maintenance center; and renovations and additions to a warehouse facility on Kuykendahl.
The money also would have gone toward the purchase of land for 11 more schools, including eight elementary schools, one middle school and a high school, and a transportation and maintenance center.
• Proposition 2: Voters also said no — 4,606 to 1,748 — to spending $91.2 million for the construction of a 25,000-square-foot auditorium at Spring High School and 52 new buses, as well as new roofs, heating and air-conditioning systems, lighting and fire protection systems at all schools.
• Proposition 3: Defeated 5,062 to 1,289, it called for laptop computers for all high school students; classroom computers and portable wireless labs for elementary use; pilot programs of personal computing devices for elementary and middle schools and upgrades to infrastructure. The proposition carried a price tag of $24.2 million.
Bond foes, the Homeowners Against Spring ISD Bond Propositions Inc., said the school district is not spending the existing budget money wisely.
Another round of bond debt, the group said, would send the district's current property tax rate of $1.87 per $100 property valuation even higher.
"We are voting 'no' to create our own property tax relief," said Tom Matthews, spokesman for the group.
Another group of residents calling themselves the Parents Advancing Spring Schools said the district's rapid growth rate requires the need for new schools, buses and technology.
"If we don't build new schools outlined in the bond issue, we will have to put the projected 7,500 students expected in the next four years in existing classrooms and portable buildings," said Mike Curry, co-chairman of PASS.
If voters had approved all three propositions on the ballot, the impact on property taxes on an average home in the district, which is valued at about $108,000, would be an additional $95 in 2005-06; $212 in 2006-07 and $69 in 2007-08.
PEARLAND
Voters of this Brazoria County community approved a measure to freeze property taxes for senior residents and the disabled. The proposal passed 2,278 to 203.
"Most seniors can't afford the increases in our taxes and property values," said Alma Nolan, 82, who spearheaded the petition calling for the election. "The tax situation may force many seniors out of their houses where they have lived for the past 50 years."
Opponents said a tax freeze is not warranted because the City Council in March increased the city's homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 for those at least 65 years old and the disabled.
The measure will take effect when tax bills are mailed in the fall of 2006.
Pearland's current tax rate is 69 cents per $100 property valuation. The City Council is voting on lowering the rate by two cents later this month.
MAGNOLIA
A proposal to give the City Council the authority to sell the city's natural gas utility distribution system, which provides natural gas to residents, passed 52 to 7.
Mayor Jimmy Thornton said the city has been losing hundreds of thousands of dollars for several years trying to operate its own natural gas system. He said selling it to a major utility company would be more cost-effective for the city and its residents.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
A $160 million road bond measure intended to speed up improvements on major thoroughfares in the fast-growing county was approved 2,418 to 1,030.
The package will allow the county to be the first to participate in a new state road financing program, called "pass-through toll." The county can pay for road projects up front and later receive reimbursement from the state based on the number of vehicles that use the roads.
The measure includes $100 million to expand FM 1488, FM 1485, FM 1484 and FM 1314 from two to four lanes and build a direct connection from Texas 242 to Interstate 45. The remaining $60 million is earmarked for local roads.
County officials said taxpayers can expect to see a 2-cent increase in the current tax rate of 49.63 cents per $100 valuation. For the owner of a $100,000 home, the tax bill would increase by $20 annually.
ROYAL ISD
Voters in the Royal school district in Waller County defeated two propositions of a $31.1 million bond issue.
• Proposition 1: Defeated 235-166, it called for $29.8 million to build a new high school and make other improvements to school facilities.
• Proposition 2 : Voters said no, 210-185, to spending $1.3 million to pay debt in the district's maintenance and operation budget.
Chronicle reporters Eric Hanson, Renee C. Lee and Zen T.C. Zheng contributed to this report.
ruth.rendon@chron.com kimberlye.jackson@chron.com
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posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Monday, September 12, 2005
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