El Paso County voters will be able to vote for or against five propositions that, if approved, would add amenities to county parks, upgrade and improve the coliseum, build new annexes, build offices for the medical examiner, and create the county’s first animal shelter. The five propositions on the county’s capital improvement bond total $323.8 million, but voters can decide on each proposition separately.
COUNTY OF EL PASO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND
Here’s how the El Paso County $323.8 million in bond propositions will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot, which will ask voters to vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the individual measures:
PROPOSITION A
The issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $95,615,000 for the County’s parks and recreational spaces and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.
PROPOSITION B
The issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $26,700,000 for facilities for the County’s Office of the Medical Examiner and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.
PROPOSITION C
The issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $63,285,000 for the County’s courthouse, sub courthouses, and related annexes and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds
PROPOSITION D
The issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $105,485,000 for the County’s Coliseum and adjacent facilities and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.
PROPOSITION E
The issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $32,710,000 for the County’s Animal Shelter and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.
What are the projects under the proposed $323.8 million county bond issue?
- Proposition A: Parks & Recreation: $95.6 million to improve, expand and upgrade county parks, including new outdoor stage, covered pavilion, picnic shelters and walking trail at Ascarate Park; new administrative offices a Ascarate to house parks department and others; hiking and walking trails at Westway and Sparks Park; upgrade to field lights at El Paso County Sportspark; and various upgrades and improvements to Veterans and Risiner parks in Fabens, Coyote Park in Tornillo, Gallegos Park in Canutillo; Sparks Park in Sparks; Ruben Estrella Park by Homestead Meadows; and Agua Dulce Park southeast of Horizon City.
- Proposition B: New Office of Medical Examiner: $26.7 million to build a new medical examiner’s office in a yet-to-be determined location to provide forensic scene investigation and pathology and morgue services.
- Proposition C: Courthouse, Subcourthouses, and Related Annexes: $63.3 million to build the Corbin Sambrano Project community services annex at the site of the old Naked Harem strip club in South Central El Paso to include victim and rehabilitation services, meeting spaces and outdoor seating; add a commercial kitchen for the senior nutrition program at the Ysleta Courthouse Annex; and replace the Far East Montana Annex now houses in mobile trailers with a permanent building to house a justice of the peace, constable, tax office, county clerk office and more.
- Proposition D: County Coliseum Renovation & Modernization: $104.2 million in improvements to the coliseum and its adjacent buildings, including renovating seating, improve ADA accessibility, new air conditioning system, new roofing; renovating the Sherman Barn into an event and music venue; reconstruct roller rink into open air pavilion; improve parking lot, pedestrian connectivity, lighting and more.
- Proposition E: New Animal Shelter: $32.3 million to build a facility adjacent to the jail annex on the Far Eastside. The county’s first animal shelter will provide shelter services, low- to no-cost vaccinations, and spay and neuter services.
How much will this bond impact my property tax bill?
If approved, the bond would raise the county’s portion of the homeowner’s bill by about $60 a year on the 2024 average value home, according to county officials. Changes in future property valuations could affect the tax impact.
What does my vote “for” or “against” mean?
- Voting “for” any particular proposition allows the county to borrow the amount of money for the project(s) in that individual proposition.
- Voting “against” any particular proposition means the county could not issue the debt in general obligation bonds to build the projects listed in that particular proposition. It also prohibits the county from using certain debt, including certificates of obligation that don’t require voter approval but are repaid by taxpayer dollars, for at least three years on the same projects. The county could at a later time take the proposition back to voters.