BOND PROGRAM 2006
(Updated Jan. 29, 2006)

The City of Dallas is planning an election on a bond program in November.  Your input will play a vital role in helping me determine the projects to include.  So let me begin with some basic information about our city's bond program:

What is a bond program?
The Citizens of Dallas authorize the City Council to issue debt to finance capital construction projects (these are generally large projects with a useful life of at least twenty years or extend to the life of the bonds). The debt is issued in the form of bonds which are governed by specific laws. Citizens vote to accept a bond package listing specific projects with requested funds.

What is included in a bond program?
Bond Programs generally include street improvement projects, flood protection and storm drainage projects, and facilities improvement projects such as recreation centers and libraries. Special projects (such as the zoo and hike and bike trails) can be included. Economic development projects and public safety projects (such as police facilities and fire stations) may also be included.

What cannot be included?
Projects that have a useful life expectancy LESS than the life of the bonds issued cannot be included. Examples of these would be: equipment and vehicles, street and traffic signage, leased space improvements, and code enforcement initiatives.

How are projects selected for a bond program?
Projects are identified through requests from citizens and City Council members, review of prior unfunded needs, petitioned projects, condition of the City's infrastructure, and needs identified in Council adopted or endorsed plans (for example, the thoroughfare plan).

Why do we need a bond program?
We've got $7.2 billion in our city's "needs inventory," which analyzes the infrastructure needs of our city.  (Review the Needs Inventory by project category or by council district.)  Because the city did not undertake any bond programs for about a decade in the eighties, we are paying for that "deferred maintenance" with run-down roads, neglected sewers and water lines, and city facilities in need of improvement.  Recent bond programs have helped tremendously (see below), but it's going to take a lot to begin to address our backlog of needs, and everything won't get fixed with a single bond program.  But we've got to work to reduce our backlog or we'll always be playing catch-up and falling further behind.


LOOKING BACK:  BOND PROGRAM 2003
As we begin to discuss the 2006 Bond Program, I've been getting a lot of questions about the 2003 Bond Program.  In particular, folks want to know if they're getting everything they were promised.  Well, I've got some good information for you.  First, let me begin by explaining that the total bond package in 2003 was $579 million.  It was divided into 18 separate propositions on the ballot, so voters could vote on each proposition.  Theoretically, some could pass while others failed.  As it turned out, all passed overwhelmingly.

I reviewed the last bond package as it was presented to voters.  One way the bond package can be broken down is by council district.  There are "citywide projects" that are considered projects of citywide significance that are not allocated to a specific council district.  You may review all of the projects in the 2003 Bond, District 14 projects only, and "Citywide" projects only.

Below is my analysis of how much money voters approved in the last bond, and how much money was allocated to District 14:

BOND PROGRAM 2003
PROP.
NUMBER		 PROPOSITION DESCRIPTION VOTER APPROVAL TOTAL
BOND $		 DISTRICT 14
BOND $		 CITYWIDE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 14
BOND $		 DESCRIPTION OF CITYWIDE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 14
1 Street and Thoroughfare Improvements 87% $198,960,000 $21,945,736    
2 Neighborhood and Community Park, Playground and Recreation Facilities 82% $57,290,000 $3,157,753 $250,000 Katy Trail
3 Library Facilities 81% $55,525,000   $5,246,672 Downtown Library exterior
4 Flood Protection and Storm Drainage Facilities 80% $16,435,000 $630,288    
5 Planning and Designing a Performing Arts Theater and Constructing Related Site Improvements in the Downtown Arts District 65% $11,255,000   $2,251,018 Phase 1 design of a third theater facility to be located in the Arts District
$9,004,070 Phase I design & construction of utility adjustments within the Arts District.
6 City Service and Maintenance Facilities 78% $16,825,000      
7 Animal Control Facilities 78% $11,755,000      
8 Land Acquisition For The Development Of Low and Moderate Income, Owner-Occupied, Single Family Homes 68% $3,030,000      
9 Flood Protection and Storm Drainage Facilities For The Mccommas Bluff Landfill 68% $24,000,000      
10 Specified Street Projects Described In The Election Ordinance 74% $67,900,000 $32,588,849    
11 Major and Citywide Park and Recreation Facilities 77% $43,230,000   $5,000,000 Downtown Parks
12 Cultural Arts Facilities 63% $17,665,000   $8,775,000 Annette Strauss Square - Design and Construction of improvements to Streetscape, Landscaping, and Urban Design features.
$3,263,976 Dallas Black Dance Theatre - Renovation and construction of existing Moorland YMCA, to be a rehearsal hall and offices located in the Arts District
$876,526 Latino Cultural Center - Design, utility relocation and/or land acquisition of Phase II 
13 Street, Utility and Other Infrastructure Improvements In Furtherance Of Economic and Business Development In The Southern Area Of The City 75% $6,000,000      
14 Fire Station Facilities 85% $19,750,000   $4,343,741 Fire Station #42 Replacement - 3333 W. Mockingbird
15 Farmers Market Improvements 64% $3,200,000   $3,200,000 Farmers Market - Shed No. 2 heating, ventilation and air conditioning and  infrastructure improvements.
16 Police Facilities 78% $23,470,000      
17 Homeless Assistance Facilities 79% $3,000,000      
TOTAL:   $579,290,000 $58,322,626 $42,211,003  

(Because our district encompasses Downtown, we received a large portion of the "citywide" funds.)

Many residents want to know where the bond money went.  Here is a list of District 14 projects that are either completed, on schedule, or delayed.  Here is another list of District 14 projects that will be part of the bonds sold this year.  (So these projects will begin soon.)  Please note that this list is from October 2005, so some info may be out of date.  I'm trying to get these documents in spreadsheet form so I can manipulate and analyze the data.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT MY PROPERTY TAXES?
Another question I've heard a lot is "How will this affect my property taxes?"  In general, any bond program will increase your property taxes; that's how the debt is paid.  The City Manager briefed the council recently and presented three scenarios. See the briefing for more information and assumptions. 

Since I am beginning neighborhood meetings on the 2006 Bond, I wanted to get this info up as soon as possible.  I'll continue to update this page with more information, but in the meantime, please join me at one or more of my bond townhall meetings:

Monday, January 30, 2006
7:00 p.m.
Arlington Hall
3333 Lee Parkway
◊
Thursday, February 2, 2006
7:00 p.m.
Woodrow Wilson High School Auditorium
100 Glasgow Dr.
◊
Thursday, February 9, 2006
6:30 p.m.
St. Thomas Aquinas School
3741 Abrams Rd.
(joint meeting with Councilmember Griffith)



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