On February 5, the Garland City Council voted to send eight bond propositions to the voters on election day May 4. The eight bond propositions include funding for streets, public safety, storm drainage, parks and recreation, libraries, economic development, an animal shelter, and municipal facilities. Overall, the entire bond proposal includes $423.7 million worth of funding for our city.
I had the honor of serving as Deputy Chairman on Garland’s Bond Study Committee, which was a group of 19 citizens who was tasked with sifting through the initial $1.2 billion worth of potential projects bond projects and making a recommendation to the city council on what projects should be proposed on a ballot. I became the de facto chairman of the Bond Study Committee after the Chairman—Former Garland Mayor Ron Jones—became ill and spent several months in the hospital.
Over many months and numerous presentations from city staff, city boards, and citizens, we soon realized the desperate need for additional funding of city infrastructure and programs the bond would provide. The need was largely created by the spending cuts necessitated due to the Great Recession and housing crisis of the past decade.
Our recommendation was for the highest level of projects—$475 million—that the city could handle without affecting the city’s high bond rating. After some city council discussion, the final number came down to $423.7 million reflected in the chart below.
Among the streets projects considered include the reconstruction of Holford Road, Naaman School Road and Shiloh Avenue, and programs to improve traffic flow and safety. Public safety projects include rebuilding Fire Stations #1, #6, and #7, a new police evidence facility, and safety improvements to the police headquarters. Storm drainage projects include various drainage improvements around the city focusing on areas with Class A flooding (water entering homes or businesses).
Parks and recreation projects include the reconstruction of Holford Recreation Center, park lighting improvements and field upgrades. Library projects include the modernization of all libraries in the system and the reconstruction of the South Garland Library Branch.
The municipal facilities proposition would fund a new street department facility and a transportation and sign operations shop. The animal shelter proposition would provide funding to replace the existing animal shelter which is over 50 years old.
The economic development bond money would fund the Neighborhood Vitality Program, revitalization of commercial shopping centers, and provide funding for land bank purchases to spark economic growth.
Over the next several weeks, I will go in depth into each of the eight propositions detailing the process behind choosing the projects, the funding required and the very important tax impact of the entire bond election. Stay tuned!
At the end of each blog post, I will add a musical selection. Let’s keep this campaign positive and fun.