Voters have approved Keller ISD’s $315 million bond measure as well as liquor stores within Keller’s city limits and a portion of sales tax revenue dedicated for street improvements.
Unofficial results from Tarrant County on Nov. 5 show KISD’s bond measure was approved with nearly 57% of the vote.
The local option election paving the way for liquor stores was approved by 71% of voters. And nearly 83% of Keller voters agreed to reauthorize a quarter of a cent sales tax for street maintenance and repairs.
Tarrant County College’s $825 million bond measure also passed, with about 60% approval from voters, according to election results.
Keller Mayor Pat McGrail said he supported the local option election for all alcohol sales in the city limits. He said the measure will help the city capture between $200,000 and $250,000 in additional sales tax revenue each year.
"What I want to do is prevent what we call leakage [of] sales tax dollars, leaving Keller and going to neighboring communities because [if] people want to buy liquor, they're going to buy it here in Keller or they go to North Fort Worth or wherever," he said.
He estimated it could be six months to a year before construction begins on a liquor store. The city will need to put procedures in place, which would include the need for liquor store owners to get a specific use permit to operate.
"It's not going to be a bunch of little mom-and-pops on every corner," he said. "It's going to be one, maybe two, large chain stores. ... Council will have the ultimate discretion as to who, what, where."
