Urban, school up and down connections; state amendments are adopted; new mayors

SAN ANTONIO – The May 7 election included two government proposals, several city and school bonds, and some mayoral and city council competitions.

The two largest voting bonds – $ 1.2 billion for the city of San Antonio and $ 992 million for the Northside ISD – were approved by voters.

A total of 91,656 votes, or 7.6% of the 1.2 million registered voters in the district, were cast in Bexar County. This includes 47,866 personal early voting, 17,936 ballots by mail and 25,854 on election day.

Find a summary of the election results below.

Search the drop-down menu at the top of the article or find all the results at the bottom. Read more about Voting page 2022.

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San Antonio voters approve all 6 proposals in a $ 1.2 billion bond package

Voters in San Antonio have passed the city’s largest bond program worth $ 1.2 billion

Voters from the city of San Antonio on Saturday passed the largest bond program in the city, including the first of its kind affordable housing.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced a victory 22 hours ago for the six proposals that make up the $ 1.2 billion bond package. At that time, each of the proposals, from A to F, had between 59.9% and 72.4% approval.

The bond program does not include a tax increase.

“The statement tonight is that the San Antonians believe in each other,” Nirenberg told a crowd at a party to watch the Taking Care of SA campaign, which backed the bonds. “We gather around each other. We know that we have gone through a very difficult time, but we are not happy with the status quo. We are working to make our city better, stronger, fairer and more sustainable than ever, and that is what this vote is about. ”

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The bond includes:

• ✅ Streets, bridges and sidewalks – $ 471.6 million

• ✅ Parks and recreation areas – $ 271.9 million

• ✅ Flood drainage and control – $ 169.9 million

• ✅ Affordable housing – $ 150 million

• ✅ Public safety facilities – $ 78.3 million

• ✅ Library and cultural institutions – $ 58.4 million

The housing bond, proposal F, received the least support, while the proposals for streets and drainage, A and B, respectively, topped the list.

Nirenberg attributes the scope to the support of knowledge. It is the city’s first bond to include affordable housing since voters approved a change to the charter in May 2021 to allow it.

“So there is a lot of work that needs to be done to inform and make sure that people are aware of the housing proposals and the work we do in housing,” he told reporters. “But I think again the numbers from A to F were strongly supported. And this statement as a whole is a strong faith in the future of San Antonio and faith in each other as the San Antonians.

Some of the highlights include:

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• $ 103.5 million to expand the green path system by another 21 miles

• $ 15.7 million for public arts – 1.5 percent of all bond (excluding housing)

• $ 44 million for two backup fire stations (D1 and D5) and one new police substation (D3)

• $ 100.5 million for the reconstruction of failed streets in the city

• Improvements to 30% of the city’s parks, including 9 new park properties

• $ 150 million for affordable housing – the housing part of the bond does not include individual projects, but rather broad categories for the use of financing, with a focus on supporting lower-income households.

Texas’ constitutional amendments pass easily

✅ Two changes to the state’s constitution aimed at reducing property taxes were approved by a wide margin on Saturday.

Both proposals were accepted with more than 85% support, including what will save Texas homeowners money from their property tax bills.

The first proposal aims to reduce the amount of taxes that primary and secondary public schools could impose on homeowners who are elderly or disabled. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2023 and are expected to cost more than $ 744 million between 2024 and 2026.

The second proposed constitutional amendment will increase the amount of household exemption from $ 25,000 to $ 40,000. The proposal will save homeowners an average of $ 176 from their property tax bill, the Texas Tribune reported.

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Both amendments received bipartisan support from the Texas legislature and were expected to be passed as property taxes became a major problem for homeowners whose property values ​​have skyrocketed in recent years. In Bexar County, housing estimates are rising by an average of 28%.

Property owners can check to see if they are eligible for any eligible exemptions, such as a household over 65 and disabled veterans, by visiting the area’s bcad.org website.

School, urban connections up and down

Several district school districts and cities held bond elections on Saturday, but not all passed. See a list of results below.

• ✅ Northside ISD: The $ 992 million bond was approved by 57% of voters.

Northside ISD’s $ 992 million bond focuses on school renovations, some of which are over 40 years old. The funds will go to HVAC units, roof replacement, technology and transportation.

The bond will pay to upgrade more than 20 existing schools in the Northside ISD, some of which are decades old. Most of the proposal is $ 645.5 million to be invested in schools such as John Jay, Holmes and Taft High Schools.

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NISD Superintendent Dr. Brian Woods said the bond proposal was urgent because the costs were only rising.

“Inflation is real, especially in the construction market, and delaying these projects simply means they cost more in the future,” Woods told KSAT 12. “Unfortunately, the need for them will not go away, if at all.”

Earlier, Woods explained how the connection works:

“A bond offer for a school district is exactly the same as a mortgage for you and me. “Most of us can’t afford to buy a home with cash or our normal operating dollars, so we go to a bank and borrow money, and we pay it off over time,” Woods said. “The bond issue is very similar. The difference is that the school district has to ask permission from the voters to do so. “

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The school district said the bond program would not include a tax increase.

Read more about the NISD bond here.

• ❌ ISD in the Medina Valley: The bond elections in the district failed to pass. Proposal A worth $ 383 million would pay for a new high school, high school and primary school in the fast-growing region. Proposal B worth $ 14 million would pay for a football stadium in a second high school, but voters voted against both measures.

• ✅ Harlandale ISD: Voters in the district passed all three bond measures. Proposal A was adopted by 56% of the vote. The district will use $ 93.5 million in bonds to fund school facilities, purchase land and buses. Prop B received 51% approval and will use $ 22 million to reimburse maintenance tax liabilities – money used to improve high school classrooms, replace roofs and other improvements. Prop C is a $ 9.5 million bond to complete Phase 2 of Memorial Stadium. The measure was adopted by 51% of the vote.

• ✅ Boerne ISD: 52% of voters were in favor of Proposal A, which will fund a new primary school and $ 163 million in extensions to existing schools. Proposal B, a $ 3 million project that will fund new facilities for students and staff in the county, received approval from 54% of voters.

• ❌ Marion ISD: The district’s bond proposal failed with 60% of the vote. The bond would finance improvements and long-term development in the area.

• ✅ Ingram ISD: Voters approved a bond to pay for school extensions in the area, new land for the high school and new school buses. With 941 votes cast, the measure was adopted with 53% of the vote.

• ✅ City of living oak – A $ 18 million bond choice was approved for improvements to streets, bridges and sidewalks in Live Oak. With 100% of the vote, 67% voted in favor of the proposal, while 33% rejected it.

• ✅ City of Shavano Park – The $ 10 million bond election for streets, bridges and drainage improvements in Shavano Park was approved by voters. With 100% of the vote, 82% voted in favor of the proposal, while 18% voted against.

• ❌ City of Windcrest: The $ 5 million bond election for a new Windcrest water center has been rejected by voters. With 100% of the vote, 59% voted against the proposal, while 41% approved it.

New mayors of several cities

• Floresville – Cecilia “Sisi” Gonzalez-Dipel

• The gray forest – Mandy Waldrop (123) defeated Susan Darst (113) by 10 votes

• Ingram – There will be a runoff between Bill Warren and Claude Jordan Jr.

• Kerville “Judy Eichner.”

• The Valley of Leon “Acting Chris Riley.”

• Olmos Park “Dina Ricabo.”

• Universal city – John Williams

The next election is Runoff on May 24. KSAT will have visualizations and results of Voting page 2022.

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