Posted 1:27 am Saturday, May 12, 2012
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Councils, Bonds Draw Voters Today
From Staff Reports
Voters throughout East Texas will hit the polls today to decide city council, school board and alcohol elections, with a Tyler Junior College bond issue a big item on Tyler's ballot.
TJC has proposed issuing $25 million in bonds for building a nursing and health sciences building and increasing the college's tax rate to pay for it.
The $50 million project calls for $12.5 million from student fees and $12.5 million in private donor support, in addition to the bond funds.
The
estimated tax rate impact ranges from just less than 1.5 cents per $100 valuation to more than 2 cents per $100 valuation. The variation depends upon the
bond's maturity date. The
college's estimates range from 15 to 30 years in five-year increments.
College officials have said existing health care facilities, housed at TJC's main and west campuses, are outdated and undersized.
Also on the Tyler ballot, there are three candidates -- Darryl B. Bowdre, Charles Burns and Sarah Coats -- running for District 2 on the Tyler City Council.
Bullard, Lindale, Grand Saline, New Summerfield, Wills Point and Palestine have city council races.
There are school board races in Troup, Alto, Hawkins, Jacksonville, Mineola, Rusk and New Summerfield. Tatum ISD has a nearly $30 million bond to allow the district to add a new elementary campus, add three classrooms at Tatum High School and renovate the Tatum Middle School cafeteria, among other upgrades.
The city of Rusk is holding an election about legalizing the sale of liquor for off-premise consumption. The city already has beer and wine sales.
