In total, Tarrant County voters will be deciding on $516 million worth of bonds.
Proposition A is for the issuance of $400 million in general obligation bonds for transportation projects.
Those bonds will be described on the ballot as being for “purchasing, constructing, reconstructing, renovating, rehabilitating, improving and maintaining streets, roads, highways and bridges within Tarrant County, including city, county and state streets; roads; highways and bridges; and the imposition of a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.”
Cities and public agencies in Tarrant County submitted projects previously. The cities of Fort Worth, Keller, Colleyville and Southlake are among those that submitted projects for consideration. Bonds approved by the voters in November will be allowed to fund up to half the cost of a selected municipal project and, of the $400 million being proposed, $200 million is tentatively to be allocated for projects submitted by municipalities.
A transportation bond project evaluation committee began meeting in May, meeting officially three times to prioritize and rank the projects. The committee presented those rankings to the court Aug. 3, and the rankings were recorded for further consideration.
Tarrant County voters last approved a transportation bond in 2006 for a total of $200 million.
Proposition B is for the issuance of $116 million in general obligation bonds for the county’s criminal district attorney office.
Those bonds will be described on the ballot as being for “purchasing, constructing, improving and equipping a criminal district attorney office building to provide space for prosecutorial efforts and for other nonjudicial county activities, and facilities in support thereof, and the purchase or improvement of sites therefore, and the imposition of a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.”
According to a release from the county, the intent of the Commissioners Court is to only issue the bonds if the county has the capacity to repay the bonds without a tax rate increase. The release also noted that it is currently anticipated that the bonds will be issued in several series over the next several years.
Next steps, as outlined by County Administrator G.K. Maenius, will involve producing an informational brochure and other education material for residents.
