DALLAS -- Texans approved an estimated $2.5 billion of sales tax revenue to highways in Tuesday's election, but the money will not start flowing immediately, state officials say.
Under Proposition 7, which passed easily along with other statewide constitutional amendments, the Texas Department of Transportation would gain access to the funds only if total sales tax revenues exceed $28 billion.
The 2018 fiscal year would be the first in which funds would be diverted, and the amount estimated for TxDOT is about $2.5 billion, according to state researchers. Sales tax revenue for fiscal year 2015 came to $28.9 billion, according to the state Comptroller's Office.
"The question will be whether we transfer that money when it first comes in," said Chris Bryan, spokesman for Comptroller Glenn Hegar. "What we will establish over the next year or so is how we would want to do that."
The use of general sales tax revenue for transportation projects is a first for Texas, which has heretofore relied on motor fuel taxes and fees for licenses and other permits.
Another tax-related measure, Proposition 1, also won easy passage. Prop. 1 increases the homestead exemption on local property taxes to $25,000 from the previous $15,000. Under the law that created the proposed constitutional amendment, local school districts would be compensated by the state for lost revenue.
Of more immediate impact for transportation in Texas' largest population center was the passage of $700 million for road projects in Harris County and $280 million in neighboring Montgomery County.
The Harris County bonds were part of an $850 million package.
Voters in Montgomery County rejected a $200 million road bond in 2011, forcing county commissioners to redraft the proposal.
Despite signs of a weakening economy, voters approved the largest school bond proposals on the ballot, including $1.6 billion for Dallas Independent School District. According to latest results, the bond proposal was winning with 60% support, despite some grass-roots opposition based on preservation of aging inner-city schools.
The bonds will finance nine new schools while improving existing classrooms.
"We'll sell bonds in the spring, and hopefully get to work in the summer," DISD Board President Eric Cowan told reporters after the election.
Local voters also approved $798 million for the Aldine ISD near Houston, $499.9 million for the North East ISD near San Antonio, $487 million for the Conroe ISD in Montgomery County, and $430 million for the Ysleta ISD near El Paso.
The Ysleta proposal was a second attempt after voters rejected a similar sized plan last year.
In other school districts, voters approved $272.8 million for Allen ISD and $265.8 million for Rockwell ISD, both districts in suburban Dallas; $245 million for Alvin ISD near Houston; $160.6 million for Georgetown ISD near Austin; $136 million for Temple ISD in central Texas; $135.9 million for College Station ISD; and $125 million for Mesquite ISD, $109.5 million for Willis ISD and $135 million for Lewisville ISD, all three districts near Dallas.
In Travis County, voters narrowly rejected a $287.275 million bond proposal for a civil courthouse in downtown Austin.
The measure was defeated 50.7% to 49.3%, leaving county commissioners still searching for a way to replace the tiny courthouse built for a much smaller population. Under state law, the county cannot bring another bond question related to the project before voters for three years.
In addition to the bond proposals, Houston voters cast ballots for a new mayor to replace the term-limited Anise Parker.
State Rep. Sylvester Turner, top vote getter, will compete with Houston attorney and businessman Bill King in a runoff.
In the city controller's race, leading vote-getter Bill Frazier will face Chris B. Brown in a runoff to replace the term-limited Ronald Green.
