Voters approve Travis bonds

Travis County voters Tuesday overwhelmingly approved $185 million in bonds to improve roads, pay for parks and buy land for two major highways - the largest bond package in county history. "I think the voters have indicated they want traffic solutions and better parks," said Howard Falkenberg, chairman of the YES! Travis County Bonds Committee. "This is a great time to be in the market borrowing and a great time to be putting people to work."

Turnout in Travis County exceeded some expectations - 14 percent of the county's 526,846 registered voters went to the polls. Approval of the bond package allows county commissioners to issue $185 million in bonds over the next 20 to 30 years. As a result, property taxes on a $172,669 house, the county average, could increase as much as $38.87 by 2006.

The bond proposals were divided into four ballot items:
. Proposition 1: $57.4 million for roads, drainage, bridges and pedestrian access. In all, 24 projects are on the county's wish list. It passed with 59 percent of the vote.
. Proposition 2 for $28.6 million to upgrade two county parks and to acquire land to develop two more was backed by 57 percent of voters.
. Proposition 3 received 58 percent support. It includes $32.7 million to buy right of way for Texas 45 North and for widening RM 1826.
. Proposition 4 for $66.2 million to buy right of way for Texas 130, a proposed eastern bypass aimed at reducing traffic on Interstate 35, got 65 percent support. Combined with bond money previously passed, Travis County is offering to pay for half of the $180 million in right-of-way costs for the portion of highway through the county. The state, however, wants the county to pay the full cost, and the dispute is sure to heat up again.

The bond proposals had drawn opposition from several environmental groups that said the road projects would increase traffic and pollution. Those groups succeeded in thwarting the most controversial bond proposal before it ever went to a vote. County commissioners had planned to ask voters to approve $13 million to extend Frate Barker Road in southwestern Travis County in an area over the Edwards Aquifer. But the Save Our Springs Alliance and other groups successfully worked to have the project removed from the bond package. Less controversial was voters' decision Tuesday to abolish the office of county surveyor. The office had been occupied by the same man for 26 years. When he died in March, the county weighed whether to fill the largely honorary position. Voters decided to do away with the job.