Updated: May 6, 9:31 p.m.
With all precincts reporting, unofficial totals indicated that voters in the city of San Marcos and San Marcos CISD approved each of the three bonds proposed in the May 6 election.
The city of San Marcos' Proposition 1, which would fund $17.45-million of projects related to public safety, was approved with 1,672 votes in favor, representing 75.62 percent of the total. The bond received 539 votes against, representing 24.38 percent of the total.
Proposition 2, which would fund a a $14.75-million expansion of the city library, received 1,705 votes in favor, representing 76.8 percent of the total. The bond received 515 votes against, representing 23.2 percent of the total.
San Marcos CISD's $107.3-million bond was approved with 1,999 votes, representing 74.65 percent of the total. The proposition received 679 votes against, representing 25.35 percent of the total.
The San Marcos CISD bond includes $107.3 million to go toward construction of a new elementary school; updates to elementary school campuses and Goodnight Middle School; improvements at Miller Middle School and San Marcos High School; as well as security, technology, transportation and energy management investments.
All results are unofficial until they are canvassed.
Updated: May 6, 8:57 p.m.
Check out local reactions to the strong show of early support for bonds in the city of San Marcos and San Marcos CISD.
https://twitter.com/anne_halsey/status/861018755710820352
https://twitter.com/ChiefCStapp/status/861039139696762880
https://twitter.com/ChiefCStapp/status/861036304653406209
https://twitter.com/SMCISD_Supe/status/861017188693671937
https://twitter.com/toddsalmi/status/861042593454592001
https://twitter.com/johnwmcglothlin/status/861043053615775745
The city of San Marcos proposed two separate bonds totaling $32.2 million. Proposition 1 would fund projects related to public safety, and Proposition 2 would fund an expansion of the city library.
The San Marcos CISD bond includes $107.3 million to go toward construction of a new elementary school; updates to elementary school campuses and Goodnight Middle School; improvements at Miller Middle School and San Marcos High School; as well as security, technology, transportation and energy management investments.
Updated: 7:46 p.m. May 6
Susan Seaton, an SMCISD teacher and past president of the Texas State Teachers Association, said the $107.3 million San Marcos CISD bond is crucial to moving the district into the future.
"The main thing is that nine out of 11 of our schools are overcrowded," she said. "We have students that are being taught in hallways and book rooms an teacher’s lounges that have been converted into classrooms. There’s no room for the future. This bond gives our kids the best hope for the future."
The San Marcos CISD bond includes $107.3 million to go toward construction of a new elementary school; updates to elementary school campuses and Goodnight Middle School; improvements at Miller Middle School and San Marcos High School; as well as security, technology, transportation and energy management investments.
Published: May 6, 7:16 p.m.
According to early returns, voters appear to overwhelmingly favor the three bonds proposed by the city of San Marcos and San Marcos CISD.
The city of San Marcos' Proposition 1, which would fund a variety of public safety projects, has received 1,077 votes in favor, representing 78.3 percent of the total. Proposition 2, which would fund an expansion at the city library, has received 1,084 total votes, representing 78.44 percent of the total.
San Marcos CISD's bond, which would help the district address current and anticipated population and enrollment growth, has received 1,280 votes in favor, representing 77.76 percent of the total.
The city of San Marcos proposed two separate bonds totaling $32.2 million. Proposition 1 would fund projects related to public safety, and Proposition 2 would fund an expansion of the city library.
"On early returns I’m really proud of the commitment our voters expressed today; their support for recognizing the critical importance of public safety and education in our community," Mayor John Thomaides said.
Thomaides said it is now up to City Council to move forward with executing the library expansion and public safety facilities projects.
"I'm extremely proud of our community," he said. "We're not making San Marcos great again, because it was already great. We're keeping it great."
The first proposition totals $17.45 million and would increase the city’s tax rate by $0.053 per $100 valuation.
The proposition will address public safety, including fire and police department facilities. The proposition will fund renovations at the police department, including improvements to the city’s 911 center, additional security around the department’s parking lot, creating new office space and other improvements. Additionally, the proposition will fund the relocation of Fire Station No. 2 from a former residence on Holland Street to near Wonder World Drive and Ranch Road 12.
If approved, the proposition will also fund construction of a fire training facility and a new fire department near the Trace community being built at I-35 and Posey Road.
The second proposition totals $14.75 million and would increase the city’s tax rate by $0.0307 per $100 of property valuation. If approved, the proposal would fund a 29,000-square-foot expansion at the San Marcos Public Library, 625 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos.
The library has reached capacity, Assistant City Manager Steve Parker said, and the meeting rooms at the current facility are consistently booked.
The San Marcos CISD bond includes $107.3 million to go toward construction of a new elementary school; updates to elementary school campuses and Goodnight Middle School; improvements at Miller Middle School and San Marcos High School; as well as security, technology, transportation and energy management investments.
