EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – During the Aug. 5 commissioners court meeting, commissioners heard revised recommendations from the Bond Advisory Committee on the multimillion-dollar bond proposal that voters could see on November’s ballot.
“The commissioner’s court is considering a capital plan that involves projects that are essential public infrastructure under the use of certificates of obligation, which are authorized by the commissioners’ court. Those projects total about $174 million and would not raise residents’ tax rates,” said Jose Landeros, the county’s director of strategic capital development.
The certificates of obligation will not raise tax rates. However, the second group of projects being considered will be funded through a general obligation bond, a responsible financial decision that will impact taxpayers.
“The total of those projects is proposed to raise taxes by approximately $0.03,” said Landeros.
The Sun Bowl Uplift is one initiative that needs to be added to the recommended project list. UTEP had previously asked the county to consider adding a $99 million bond to the quality-of-life proposal. However, the advisory committee thought it was within reach of other internal needs.
“The propositions being evaluated by commissioners’ court to send out to voters include constructing new county facilities to meet some of our growing needs, including animal welfare shelters and new county annexes in some of the fastest growing parts of the community. In addition to improvements to all county parks, including the sports park and Acarate Park, the largest park in El Paso County, at just over 400 acres.
Other investments are also proposed to help ensure that residents have access to clean drinking water under the certificates of obligation and making upgrades to some of our aging facilities, including the county courthouse and our jails,” said Landeros
The Bond Advisory Committee is a volunteer group of residents appointed by the commissioner’s court to help develop the county’s capital plan.
Should the bond proposal get approval on Aug. 12, the next step is community outreach, where the county will facilitate 12 public meetings. Eight of those will be held in person, 2 per district, and the remaining meetings will be conducted online.
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