DALLAS -Texas voters will consider $4.75 billion of bond proposals designed to help accommodate growth on May 9.
The combined amount on 60 ballots represents a nearly 30% drop from the $6.8 billion proposed Nov. 4 and the $6.7 billion on the May 10, 2014 ballot.
Schools represent the bulk of the bond proposals, but cities and counties are also seeking sizable debt for roads and other infrastructure.
Montgomery County, an affluent suburb north of Houston, is seeking $350 million of road bonds, including a project in The Woodlands that would help handle traffic near Exxon-Mobil's new campus. A $10 billion residential development called Springwoods Village is growing alongside the new corporate complex.
Designed for 10,000 employees, the Exxon-Mobil campus is expected to reach full occupancy this year.
Nelda Blair, co-chair of Montgomery County's road bond committee, said the bonds are unlikely to require a tax-rate increase based on current growth rates.
Montgomery County Commissioner James Noack called plans to spend $22 million on a Woodlands Parkway extension "foolhardy," and said many residents oppose the project.
"I just don't think now is the time or the place to spend that money on that project, and if we are I think we should at least consider the effect it can have on the residents of Precinct 3 in the interior of The Woodlands," Noack said, according to local news reports. "It would be sad if one project kills the bond that is so desperately needed in this community."
The largest bond proposal on the ballot, $498 million for the Klein Independent School District, is also related to the expected growth from the Exxon-Mobil and Springwood developments.
Klein's 2004 bond proposal passed with 63% of the vote, while a 2008 proposal passed with 52%.
Klein ISD Superintendent Jim Cain said his goal is to win 65% approval of the 2015 bonds. Cain plans to target retirees in the district who may think they have no reason to approve the bond since they do not have children in the school and it will raise their taxes.
"The success of Klein ISD and the value of property are directly related," Cain said. "There is a high correlation between a strong district and property values."
Another district serving the area, Tomball ISD, got an outlook lift to positive from stable from Standard & Poor's as it went to market with $135 million of school bonds that carried AA underlying ratings and triple-A ratings with the Texas Permanent School Fund guarantee.
Another fast-growing Montgomery County school district, New Caney ISD, is asking voters for $173 million in bonds for the construction of new campuses, more classrooms for current campuses, renovating existing campuses, constructing a district natatorium and purchasing land for future campuses.
In North Texas, the affluent Dallas suburb of Frisco will ask voters to approve $267 million, including $125 million for roads. Frisco is expected to grow with the move of the Toyota headquarters to nearby Plano.
South of Fort Worth, Cleburne ISD is proposing $150 million for the growing district.
In far West Texas, the Ysleta Independent School District serving suburban El Paso is seeking approval of $450 million of bonds to finance repairs and new construction in the district. Ysleta serves Fort Bliss Army Post, which has grown with the base realignment process over the past decade.
Ysleta Superintendent Xavier De La Torre said the reason many schools are in need of extensive repairs or need to be rebuilt is because the needed improvements were not addressed on a regular basis. With this issue, De La Torre does not expect to seek another bond issue for several years.
Near the southern tip of Texas, McAllen ISD is proposing a $297 million bond issue to build new schools and finance repairs to others.
In East Texas, the debt-free Marshall ISD is making another request for approval of bonds after voters rejected $150 million in May 2014.
The district board voted unanimously to submit a $109.2 million bond proposal for new schools and renovations.
"We believe the planning for this bond election has been a thorough and transparent process that included a comprehensive assessment of our existing facilities and input from the community," said Marshall Superintendent Marc Smith in a statement after the board vote.
Another district whose bonds were shot down last year is trying again. Wichita Falls ISD in North Texas is seeking $59.5 million for a career and technical center, about half the amount rejected by voters in May 2014.
Wichita Falls sits in the oil patch on the border of Oklahoma and could be affected by the falling price of oil. Nearby Mineral Wells recently posted a material event notice on the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's EMMA website saying its largest employer and taxpayer, the oilfield services firm Baker Hughes, was closing its operations in the area.
One city in the high plains region of Texas, Lubbock, decided not to call a $134 million bond election.
The Lubbock City Council voted 4-2 to table the proposals from a citizens committee, including $66 million for street upgrades and $18.5 million for city facilities and public safety projects.
"I agree with everything the committee came up with, but I'm not sure the timing is right," said Mayor Glen C. Robertson. "I'm not sure the city can afford it."
The council representing more than 236,000 citizens last year raised property taxes by more than 2 cents per $100. That followed higher rates for water and electricity, council members noted.
"There are too many things that are hitting the pocketbooks of our citizens," said council member Victor Hernandez.
