In a packed council chamber, Pearland city leaders on Monday hammered out four bond packages to put before voters in a possible bond election May 6.
“I think we had enough people say, ‘Let’s put the whole thing out there’ — it’s up to the voters,” Mayor Kevin Cole said. “It’s going to be broken out by propositions.”
Should the council in February decide to proceed with the bond election, four separate propositions are: $105.5 million in drainage projects, $10 million in roads, just over $33 million for parks and just under $16 million for public safety.
City residents would be able to vote for none, one, several or all of the propositions.
“You’ll have cafeteria style where you can go through and pick and choose,” Cole said. “It gives people the opportunity to weigh in on their particular interests.”
The council is expected to decide whether to call a May 6 bond election at its Feb. 13 meeting.
Among those who turned out Monday were a large group showing support for expanding soccer facilities to accommodate a program that is bursting at the seams.
“Space is so limited we have to drive to Houston for practice,” Pearland Soccer President Ted Bryan Kalivoda said, detailing how more than 100 players make the drive weekly from Pearland to the Blue Ridge Soccer Park in Houston.
Proposed parks improvements include expansions of facilities at Hickory Slough and Independence parks.
Also discussed Monday were impacts of various levels of bonds on the city’s debt service tax rate.
For a $250,000 home, the tax impact of a $105 million bond election is estimated to have no annual impact, while $149.5 million would have a $12.19 annual impact. A $181.3 million package would come with an annual cost of $24.38, city staff said.
However, the maintenance and operation costs of new projects approved would have an impact on the city’s general fund once they are built.
Should one or all of the bond packages receive voter approval, design contracts for approved projects would begin to be awarded in July, with the first bond sales not occurring until June 2024.
“The funds (designated for these projects can’t be used for anything else,” Councilman Woody Owens said. “You can’t say you’re going to use it here, and then use it somewhere else.”
Council members generally agreed that voters should have a say in the projects.
“If we’re going to a vote, let’s vote on all of it,” Councilman Tony Carbone said.
