Dallas’ $1.25 billion bond package for city upgrades approved by voters

By Everton Bailey Jr. and Leah Waters

Dallas voters overwhelminglypassed a $1.25 billion bond package Saturday, paving the way for upgrades to city streets, sidewalks, parks, storm drainage, libraries and other buildings and infrastructure over five years.

According to final unofficial results, all 10 propositions on the ballot were approved by voters with support ranging from 86% in favor of borrowing $521.2 million for street and transportation improvements to 71% in favor of borrowing $26.4 million for housing and neighborhood infrastructure. in Dallas County.

The propositions enjoyed strong support among city residents in Dallas and Denton counties, but it was a slightly different story among Dallas voters in Collin County, where voters were mostly against propositions meant to improve storm drainage and flood drainage and for housing infrastructure upgrades, according to unofficial results.

The vast majority Dallas voters are in Dallas County.

Voters were asked to approve $1.25 billion in general obligation bonds to fund hundreds of projects meant to improve the quality of life for residents and municipal government workers. The most popular bond measure in Dallas County wasProposition A to devote $521 million for expansion, repairs and improvements to roads, alleys, bridges, traffic signals and other related projects. It had nearly 87% approval according to early returns.

City officials have said they plan to start issuing bonds in the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, and that street resurfacing projects likely will be the first ones tackled. The bonds will be repaid with revenue collected from city property taxes. City officials have said approval of the propositions won’t increase the current tax rate.

As early results rolled in, attendees at an election night watch party at the top of Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas hugged one another after the polls closed. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson arrived a little after 8 p.m., but several people left the party an hour later after declaring victory for the 10 propositions.

Johnson said he believed voter approval on Saturday was a clear signal residents wanted better streets, safer neighborhoods and more green spaces.

”We’re a city of both dreamers but also do-ers. And we’ve become a city that the rest of America yearns for,” the mayor said during a speech at the party. “And that’s because we don’t just aim to compete in Dallas. We actually play to win here.”

Dallas City Council member Jesse Moreno said he was thrilled to see residents coming together to back broad initiatives throughout the city.

”Tonight’s about unity,” Moreno told The Dallas Morning News. “Tonight is about bringing people of all backgrounds, of all walks of life together and being one Dallas. It shows the commitment that we are doing things right at City Hall and that people want to continue that progress that we’ve had so far, in particular into our parks.”

The bond propositions drew mixed reviews from some voters at the polls Saturday.

Jim and Esmer Wear were split on what propositions they supported after voting at the Samuell Grand Recreation Center.

Jim Wear, 74, said he voted in favor of all 10 proposals, saying he felt all were necessary for city improvements.

“There were some I was a little concerned about, like the one on economic development. It just seemed like it could turn into another case of the rich getting richer,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I guess I’m an optimist and really hoping all of the money is put to good use.”

Esmer Wear, 76, said she supported a portion of the propositions and voted against at least one of them.

“I voted for the ones on homelessness, arts and culture, libraries, parks, all things I believe are core issues that need to be addressed in the city,” she said. She voted against the proposition related to streets and transportation projects, saying she wasn’t sure how efficient the city would be with the funds.

“I see streets torn up or in poor condition all the time,” she said. “It makes you wonder where the money goes.”

South Oak Cliff resident Joe Bennett said he voted for every proposition except Proposition G, which covers economic development-related projects. He said he was concerned based on the way the ballot measure was written that it would lead to city initiatives and programs that could result in tax hikes.

“I don’t want to support anything that increases my taxes,” said Bennett, 71, after voting at the Kiest Park Recreation Center Saturday afternoon. He said his support for housing, parks and arts facilities drove him to support the other bond propositions.

Saturday’s election was the latest chapter on a bumpy road that saw city staff recommendations for bond money allocations clash with suggestions from a civilian board appointed by council members. Council members were not being entirely unified on when the election should happen or what propositions voters should approve, and the city canceled town halls meant to educate voters out of concern they could violate state law.

A political action committee called 2024 Dallas Bond Campaign, led by former U.S. Ambassador Jeanne Phillips and attorney Tim Powers, was created to publicly support the bond measures. According to the group’s campaign finance reports, itraised $563,000 from Feb. 28 to April 24, spending more than $477,000 over that period, and having almost $136,000 on hand as of the end of April.

The committee is behind the “Together, for Dallas” campaign and reported the largest portion of their contributions, about 44%, went to local public relations and political consulting firm Allyn Media for advertising and consulting expenses. Donations included $50,000 each from real estate investment and development firm Crow Holdings, the Dallas Regional Chamber and the Dallas Citizens Council, and $25,000 each from Downtown Dallas Inc., real estate development company Matthews Southwest, development firm Hillwood, law firm Winstead, philanthropist Lyda Hill, and investor Darwin Deason.

“I don’t want to support anything that increases my taxes,” said Bennett, 71, after voting at the Kiest Park Recreation Center Saturday afternoon. He said his support for housing, parks and arts facilities drove him to support the other bond propositions.

Saturday’s election was the latest chapter on a bumpy road that saw city staff recommendations for bond money allocations clash with suggestions from a civilian board appointed by council members. Council members were not being entirely unified on when the election should happen or what propositions voters should approve, and the city canceled town halls meant to educate voters out of concern they could violate state law.

A political action committee called 2024 Dallas Bond Campaign, led by former U.S. Ambassador Jeanne Phillips and attorney Tim Powers, was created to publicly support the bond measures. According to the group’s campaign finance reports, itraised $563,000 from Feb. 28 to April 24, spending more than $477,000 over that period, and having almost $136,000 on hand as of the end of April.

The committee is behind the “Together, for Dallas” campaign and reported the largest portion of their contributions, about 44%, went to local public relations and political consulting firm Allyn Media for advertising and consulting expenses. Donations included $50,000 each from real estate investment and development firm Crow Holdings, the Dallas Regional Chamber and the Dallas Citizens Council, and $25,000 each from Downtown Dallas Inc., real estate development company Matthews Southwest, development firm Hillwood, law firm Winstead, philanthropist Lyda Hill, and investor Darwin Deason.

Some residents have opposed Proposition F that will allocate $90 million for police and fire facility upgrades. The main point of contention is $50 million of that tally is slated to go toward construction of a new police academy. Opponents believe the funds should go to initiatives that could improve policing in marginalized communities.

The May 4 election was the fourth time Dallas voters have weighed in on a city bond program over the last two decades. Voters approved the last three capital bond programs — $1.35 billion in 2006, $642 million in 2012 and $1.05 billion in 2017.

Voters on Saturday also appeared to approve: Proposition B to put $345 million for improving, expanding and building new parks and recreation facilities; Proposition D where more than $43 million would go toward improving and building new libraries; Proposition E to set aside $75 million in improvements and repairs to 15 city-owned arts and cultural facilities; Proposition G to devote $72 million to city programs meant to support commercial, industrial and retail growth as well as incentives to lure more corporate investment into the city; Proposition I, which would see $19 million in initiatives meant to address homelessness; and Proposition J to take $5 million to improve the former IBM building on 1000 Belleview Street, where the city plans to move its data center run by the Information and Technology Services Department.

At University Park United Methodist Church, Grace Anne Woodruff said her annoyance with driving over potholes on Dallas streets pushed her to vote for Proposition A for street and transportation-related projects. She called it a “no-brainer” that she supported Proposition B, which covers parks and recreation-related projects.

”I just think [parks are] important for children and for the greenery and the environment in Dallas,” said Woodruff, 75, who has lived in North Texas since 1980. “Children need a place to play and go have a picnic.”

Staff writers Devyani Chhetri and Leah Waters contributed to this report.

This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.