Residents of Bellaire will be asked to vote on $70 million in bond referendums this November to fund stormwater and wastewater projects.
The $70 million package will be separated into two ballot items, including a $30 million bond for water and wastewater improvements, and a $40 million bond for stormwater improvements.
What you need to know
Assistant City Manager and City Engineer Beth Jones gave a presentation at an Aug. 19 Bellaire City Council meeting on the projects that are included in the bond proposal.
Stormwater projects that would be supported in part by the $40 million bond include:
- Cypress Ditch widening: $90 million total cost
- Property acquisition: $8 million total cost
- Detention construction: $12 million total cost
The estimated cost for all stormwater projects is $110 million. Jones said supplemental funding will help close the remaining funding gap, including through partnerships, federal and state appropriations, grants and property exchange.
If the bond is approved, construction is anticipated to start on Cypress Ditch in fall 2025.
More details
Wastewater projects include demolishing Bellaire’s current wastewater treatment plant and connecting to Houston’s Wastewater Treatment Plant at a cost of $30 million.
Jones said connecting to Houston’s plant was the cheaper of three options. Alternatives explored included rebuilding Bellaire’s outdated plant at a cost of $100 million or rehabilitating it at a cost of $71.5 million.
Connecting to Houston’s WWTP would not only save money, but it would also allow for continued city collection services, and for passive recreation such as green space and trails to be built, Jones said. It also clears the path for the Cypress Ditch project.
Water projects funded by the bond could include replacing water lines, fixing storage tanks and providing a backup generator for the Renwick water plant.
Stay tuned
More information on the bond projects are expected to be shared during a Regional Drainage Improvement Program open house at 6 p.m. Aug. 20 at Bellaire City Hall.
If the bond is approved by voters, Chief Financial Officer Terrence Beaman said staff will account for it in the tax rate set in fiscal year 2025-26.
The general election is Nov. 5. The deadline for voter registration is Oct. 7.
