EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso County is making progress on capital improvement bond projects that were approved by voters during the November election, county officials said.
During a County Commissioners court meeting on Monday, commissioners approved the county’s Public Works Department to begin early design work and possible construction on the projects.
The projects will include upgrades to regional and neighborhood parks across the county, construction of a new Office of the Medical Examiner, and an animal shelter. Altogether, these projects will cost $155 million and will raise taxes, county officials said.
“The county had a larger list of projects that would have raised taxes by $0.03 because of the amount that was authorized. And it’s only going to raise taxes by half that amount to about 1.5 cents,” said Deputy County Administrator Jose Landeros.
Landeros adds that the design timeline for some of these projects can be anywhere from 12 to 18 months, and construction would start after. Projects are expected to be done by 2028, county officials said.
County officials add that the Capital improvement bonds are different from the $54 million of certificates of obligation the county is trying to acquire to fund infrastructure projects.
Landeros adds that the certificates of obligation do not require voter approval and will not impact taxes.
“It’s called debt layering, by issuing new debt, when we pay off old debt, we continue to make investments in critical infrastructure while protecting taxpayers and not raising their tax rates. So we continue to pay the same amount,” he said.
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