Collin County residents appear to be largely in favor of propositions that promise improvements to the county in this year’s bond election, showing particular support for a proposition that would see road improvements.
The November 7 election saw residents gather at polling locations across the DFW metroplex to vote on various propositions and elected positions. Unofficial results show approval for most of the bond measures on North Texas ballots, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Residents of Collin County saw five propositions totaling $683,374,864 appear on their ballots this year:
- $261,864,179 for court and detention facilities.
- $22,450,000 for parks and open spaces.
- $13,360,685 for a medical examiner’s facility.
- $5,700,000 for an animal shelter facility.
- $380,000,000 for road and bridge improvements project.
According to preliminary results, the majority of residents voted in favor of each proposition. However, Proposition E, which covered road and bridge improvements, passed with nearly 75% of voter approval.
Prop E will rebuild county roads that officials predict will be “overloaded due to rural development, development of regional corridor roadways, further development of the Outer Loop, additional funding for US-380 freeway, regular contribution to TxDOT projects, and improvement of city thoroughfares,” according to the county.
Barbara Rice, a local voter, told The Dallas Morning News that she voted in favor of Proposition E and against the other four.
“We need it,” said Rice, per the DMN. “With our increasing population here in Plano and Collin County, a lot of times we’re behind the population curve on adding bridges, roads, and other infrastructure.”
Susan Fletcher, Collin County commissioner for Precinct 1, said that bonds are an essential function of the government, noting it “would take many years to accumulate [via increased taxes] what is needed now,” per the DMN.
“Of the top 15 most populous counties in the state, Denton County is the closest to matching our low rate, and they are approximately 43% higher than Collin, meaning we have been extremely frugal with taxpayers’ money and shown our good stewardship,” she continued. “We don’t waste it.”
