We urge Denton residents to approve all four bond propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot and clear the way for much-needed improvements.
Voters are being asked to OK the sale of $98.2 million in bonds to finance a six-year construction program targeting streets, public safety, drainage and parks. We believe each one is worthy of your support.
A citizens committee studied a list of proposals from city staff members and residents before recommending the final selections. The process took about a year to collect input through a variety of methods, including comments at public meetings, telephone calls, emails and online surveys.
The lion’s share of the money in this proposed bond package — about $61.7 million — would go to fund street reconstruction and improvements, and that’s one area that needs immediate attention. A list of the targeted streets can be found online at www.cityofdenton.com/departments-services/2014-bond-program.
The second proposition would authorize the expenditure of about $16.6 million for public safety. The police and fire departments are in serious need of building expansion to relieve overcrowding and make way for growth. Funding includes $13.5 million to replace two substandard fire stations. In our view, this is another easy check mark on the ballot.
Officials tell us that the stations on McCormick Street and Sherman Drive are sadly outdated. Both were built many years ago and were not designed to accommodate the equipment firefighters need today.
This proposition would also fund important projects to help the police department, including relocation of the Communications Center and Criminal Investigations Bureau, improvements to the firing range and a renovation of the police headquarters lobby.
Proposition 3 would provide $8.5 million for drainage and flood-control improvements focused on two major areas of the city, the Magnolia Street and Hinkle Drive area and the downtown area. Both measures would help ensure that the city’s drainage system is adequate to handle runoff during heavy rains and that public safety vehicles can get to areas where they are needed.
The fourth proposition, $11.4 million for parks, would fund far-reaching improvements to city parks and would include renovations and expansions at various locations and new equipment for several facilities.
As Denton has continued to grow, it has become apparent that many existing park facilities are no longer sufficient to deal with demand. We need to upgrade and expand, and this proposition should go a long way toward helping enhance some of the most popular amenities in the city.
We feel strongly that all ballot propositions are necessary and would help maintain the quality of life that Denton residents want and deserve.
Officials have estimated that approval of all propositions could ultimately bring a 3-cent increase to the city’s property tax rate, which currently stands at 68.975 cents per $100 valuation. City officials calculate that the average Denton homeowner could pay about $48 more in property taxes each year based on an average home price of about $160,000.
We believe the extra expense would be money well spent, based on existing needs and the extensive improvements funded by the bond package, and we encourage local voters to join us in supporting all four propositions.
It’s a sound investment in our city’s future.
