Dallas voters overwhelmingly It passed a $1.25 billion bond package on Saturday that paves the way for upgrades to the city's roads, sidewalks, parks, storm drains, libraries and other buildings and infrastructure over five years.
According to the final unofficial results, all 10 proposals on the ballot were approved by voters, ranging from 86% in favor of borrowing $521.2 million for road and transportation improvements to housing and neighborhood improvements. Support ranged from 71% in favor of borrowing $26.4 million for infrastructure. Located in Dallas County.
While the proposal had strong support among urban residents in Dallas and Denton counties, the story was a little different among Dallas voters in Collin County, the paper said, with most voters wanting to improve stormwater and flood drainage. and opposed proposals aimed at upgrading housing infrastructure. Unofficial results.
The majority of Dallas voters live in Dallas County.
Voters were asked to approve $1.25 billion in general obligation bonds to fund hundreds of projects aimed at improving the quality of life for residents and municipal employees. The most popular bond measures in Dallas County were: Proposition A would allocate $521 million to expand, repair and improve roads, alleys, bridges, traffic lights and other related projects. According to early responses, it received almost 87% support.
City officials said they plan to begin issuing bonds in the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, and street repaving projects will likely be tackled first. The bonds will be repaid with revenue from city property taxes and other sources. City officials said approval of the proposal would not result in an increase in current tax rates.
As early results came in, attendees at an election night watch party held on the rooftop of Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas hugged each other after voting closed. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson arrived just after 8 p.m., but several people left the party an hour later after declaring victory for the 10-point proposal.
Johnson said he believes Saturday's voter approval is a clear sign that residents want better streets, safer neighborhoods and more green space.
“We are a city of doers as well as dreamers. And we have become the city that all of America aspires to,” the mayor said in a speech at the party. “And that's because we're not just looking to compete in Dallas. We're actually playing to win here.”
Dallas City Councilman Jesse Moreno said he is excited to see residents coming together to support a wide range of efforts across the city.
“Tonight is about unity,” Moreno said. dallas morning news. “Tonight is about people of all backgrounds and walks of life coming together to be one Dallas. It shows that we want to continue making progress, especially in our parks.”
The bond proposal drew mixed reviews from some voters in Saturday's vote.
Jim and Esmer Ware disagreed about which proposal to support after voting at the Samuel Grand Recreation Center.
Jim Ware, 74, said he voted for all 10 proposals, saying he felt they were all needed to improve the city.
“I was a little concerned about things like economic development. It seemed like it could become another case of the rich getting richer,” he said. “But I guess at the end of the day, I’m an optimist and I really want all the money to be put to good use.”
Esmer Ware, 76, said she supported some of the proposals and voted against at least one of them.
“I voted on homelessness, arts and culture, libraries, parks, all the things that I think are core issues that need to be addressed in the city,” she said. She voted against proposals related to road and transportation projects, saying she wasn't sure how efficiently the city could use the funds.
“I see roads all the time that are torn up and in bad shape,” she says. “It makes you wonder where that money is going.”
South Oak Cliff resident Joe Bennett said he voted for all proposals except Proposition G, which targets economic development-related projects. He said he is concerned because of the way the ballot measure is worded, it could lead to city initiatives or programs that could lead to tax increases.
“I don't want to support anything that increases taxes,” Bennett, 71, said after voting Saturday afternoon at the Kiest Park Recreation Center. He said his support for housing, parks and arts facilities led him to support other bond proposals.
Saturday's election was the latest chapter in a bumpy road in which city staff's recommendations for bond allocations collide with recommendations from a private panel appointed by city council members. The City Hall was intended to educate voters amid concerns that city council members were not fully unified on when elections should be held or what proposals voters should approve, potentially putting the city in violation of state law. has been discontinued.
A political action committee called the 2024 Dallas Bond Campaign, led by former U.S. Ambassador Gene Phillips and attorney Tim Powers, was created to publicly support the bond measure. According to the group's campaign finance report, it raised $563,000 from February 28 to April 24, spent more than $477,000 during that period, and had about $136,000 in hand at the end of April. was there.
The committee supports the “Together, for Dallas” campaign and reports that the lion's share of donations, about 44%, went to local public relations and political consulting firm Allyn Media for advertising and consulting fees. ing. Donations include $50,000 each from real estate investment and development company Crow Holdings, Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Civic Council, Downtown Dallas Inc., real estate developer Matthews Southwest, developer Hillwood, and law firm Winstead. and $25,000 each from philanthropist Lyda. Mr. Hill and investor Darwin Deason.
Although there was no substantial campaign against the bond package, some proposals faced public opposition.
Dallas City Councilwoman Carla Mendelsohn asked voters to approve Proposition C, which provides $52 million to upgrade the city's stormwater drainage and flood protection infrastructure, and $26 million for affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. He urged them to reject Prop. H, which aims to secure more than $1,000. attempt. She said she believes the city needs to find other ways to pay for these projects, such as another bond issued by the Dallas Housing Finance Corporation or the Dallas Water Utility.
All city voters in Collin and Denton counties are represented by Mr. Mendelsohn.
Some residents oppose Prop. F, which allocates $90 million to upgrade police and fire facilities. The main point of contention is that $50 million of that money is slated to go toward building a new police academy. Opponents believe the money should go toward initiatives that can improve policing in marginalized communities.
The May 4 election was the fourth time Dallas voters weighed in on a municipal bond program in the past 20 years. Voters have approved three previous capital bond programs: $1.35 billion in 2006, $642 million in 2012, and $1.05 billion in 2017.
Voters on Saturday also appear to have approved it. Prop. B would spend $345 million to improve, expand, and construct new parks and recreation facilities. Proposition D would spend more than $43 million to improve and build new libraries. Proposition E would set aside $75 million for him to improve and repair 15 city-owned arts and cultural facilities. Prop. G would earmark $72 million for city programs aimed at supporting commercial, industrial and retail growth, as well as incentives to attract more business investment to cities. Proposition I would earmark her $19 million for efforts to address homelessness. Proposition J would spend $5 million to improve the former IBM building at 1000 Bellevue Street, where the city plans to move a data center operated by the Information Technology Services Authority.
Grace Ann Woodruff of University Park United Methodist Church said she was inspired to vote for Prop. A on road and transportation-related projects because she was frustrated with driving over potholes in Dallas. She said it was “natural” to support Prop. B, which targets parks and recreation-related projects.
“I just think [parks are] “It's important for the kids, it's important for the greenery and the environment in Dallas,” said Woodruff, 75, who has lived in North Texas since 1980. “Kids need a place to play and have a picnic.” Ta.
Staff writers Devyani Chhetri and Leah Waters contributed to this report.
