League City voters on May 4 overwhelmingly approved of two general obligation bonds, something that has not been on a League City ballot since 1992, to fund drainage and road projects.
Proposition A, which calls for $73 million in bonds to fund drainage projects, passed with 2,445 votes for a total of 67.71%. Proposition B, which allocates $72 million in bonds toward road projects, passed with 2,319 votes for a total of 64.35%.
Proposition C also passed with 2,224 votes for a 61.74% total. The proposition approves increasing the city’s sales tax rate by 0.25 cents per $1 to its maximum, all of which will go toward funding Props. A and B. By approving a sales tax rate increase, League City residents’ property taxes will not increase to fund the bonds, city officials have said.
“I’m tickled pink that all three of them passed," Mayor Pat Hallisey said. “Now the real works begins.”
The city has dozens of projects on the books ready to begin. They will go out to bid within the next month or so, and the city has a three- to five-year window to complete them, Hallisey said.
There are 21 drainage-related projects—including detention ponds, drainage easements, pump installations and more—across the city. Originally the city identified $120 million worth of projects but whittled the list down to be more palatable to voters, officials have said.
There are 10 projects to help alleviate traffic congestion in League City. Mobility is the No. 1 concern for about one-third of residents, according to a 2018 citizen survey.
Projects the bonds will fund include extending Landing Boulevard north over Clear Creek and creating a portion of the Grand Parkway extension.
The League City City Council will revisit at least one project the bonds would fund. Residents recently raised concerns about an extension of Walker Street, so the council will take another look at that project, Hallisey said.