More than 60% of those voting approved the Arlington Independent School District and Tarrant County College’s requests to issue bonds to the finance renovation of facilities and construction of new facilities. The Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce supported both propositions and urged a vote “FOR” each.
Arlington asked for approval to issue $966 million in bonds. The Arlington ISD passed a similar bond issue in 2014, known as a five-year construction financing package. Public support for the 2019 proposition
came from the district completing all of the projects for the 2014 bond on time and under budget.
With the 2019 bond package, Arlington gained the funds to replace four of the oldest school buildings in Arlington, each more than 50 years old. Funds will also be available to build the facilities for full-day pre-K. Although the Legislature authorized the operating funds for full-day pre-K, it was up to the local taxpayers to fund the building of necessary facilities.
CLICK HERE to view Dr. Marcelo Cavazos thank the community for their support.
Tarrant County College District sought approval for $825 million in bonding authority. All six TCC campuses will benefit from the support of the TCC bond. The bond package includes improvements to either restore or build classrooms for various associate degrees and certifications; training centers for nurses and healthcare techs; training for careers in law enforcement, EMS and firefighting; technology and computer science training; skill training in trades, culinary arts, hospitality and manufacturing. It was the first bond proposal from the district in 25 years.
Both AISD and TCC assured voters there would be no tax rate increase as a result of these new bonds. As expected, voter turnout was very low, with about 11% of registered voters casting ballots in the Arlington school district and in the county as a whole.
On the statewide ballot, nine of ten propositions proposed by the Texas Legislature passed, most by wide margins. Proposition One failed to pass. It would have allowed Judges to serve in more than one jurisdiction at a time. Proposition Nine, which allowed for property tax-free deposits in the State bullion depository, squeaked by with 50.95% of the vote.