EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Just two out of El Paso County’s five “capital improvement bond” questions are leading after early voting totals were released shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesdsay, Nov. 5.
The bonds for County parks and recreation and a new animal shelter are the only ones that are leading after early voting.
El Paso County is asking voters to approve $323.8 million in what are being called “capital improvement bonds.”
The County bond is being broken up into five separate ballot questions for voters to decide on individually — parks and recreation; new office for medical examiner; courthouse, sub-courthouses and County annexes; County Coliseum renovation; and a new animal shelter.
Here is a breakdown of the County bond questions and how each of the ballot questions are faring:
Proposition A — $95.6 million for parks and recreation; yes with 86,843 or 54.65 percent; no with 72,063 or 45.35 percent.
Proposition B — $26.7 million for a new office for the medical examiner; yes with 79,035 or 49.42 percent; no with 80,883 or 50.58 percent.
Proposition C — $63.3 million for courthouse and annex projects; yes with 65,846 or 41.02 percent; no with 94,683 or 58.98 percent.
Proposition D — $105.5 million for a renovation and modernization effort for the El Paso County Coliseum; yes with 78,635 or 48.49 percent; no with 83,526 or 51.51 percent.
and Proposition E — $32.7 million for a new animal shelter that will be built next to the Jail Annex; yes with 102,766 or 62.97 percent; no with 60,424, or 37.03 percent.
County officials estimate that if all five ballot measures pass, the average homeowner will see their taxes increase by about $5 a month or a little more than $60 a year.
Meanwhile the $396.6 million bond for University Medical Center is leading after early voting totals were release.
The UMC bond has 104,751 votes or 63.48 percent and 60,252 votes against or 36.52 percent.
UMC says this bond issue will be used to improve the main UMC campus, increase health-care access around the County, build the first “comprehensive cancer center in El Paso,” and develop a burn center.
UMC estimates that if the bond is approved, it will have an impact of less than $6 a month for the average homeowner over 30 years.
In the Anthony Independent School District, a ballot question asking for 12-cent increase in the district’s maintenance and operations tax rate is trailing early.
The tax increase has 252 votes in favor of it or 46.32 percent, while 292 votes or 53.68 percent are against.
“The district will use these funds to balance our budget, address facility and fleet needs, provide student programming and for teacher and staff salaries,” it said on its website in a section devoted to the tax-rate election.
If approved that would translate to about $81 more a year, or about $6.75 a month, in property taxes for the average homeowner in the district, Anthony ISD said.
Passage of the new tax rate would not cause an increase in property taxes for homeowners who are age 65 or older or those who are disabled and have applied for and received the Over 65 Homestead Exemption, the district said.
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