Fort Bend Voters OK School Bonds, Mobility Bond

SUGAR LAND, TX — Fort Bend County voters overwhelmingly passed school bonds for Stafford MSD, Lamar Consolidated CISD, and Katy ISD despite light voter turnout in the odd-numbered general election.

Voters also passed a $218.5 million mobility bond in Fort Bend County, while Missouri City approved charter amendments in their city.

The issues Fort Bend County voters passed include:

Fort Bend County: Passed 69%

The issuance of Fort Bend County general obligation bonds for roads and bridges in the amount of $218.58 million and the levy of taxes, in payment of the bonds

Stafford MSD: Bond: Passed 57%

The issuance of $62, million bonds by the city of Stafford, Texas, for and on behalf of the stafford municipal school district for the construction, acquisition and equipment of school buildings in the district, including the repair, renovation and expansion of school buildings in the district and the purchase of technology, the purchase of necessary sites for school buildings and the purchase of new school buses and the levying of an ad valorem tax in payment thereof

Katy ISD: Bond: Passed 65%

The issuance of $609.2 million school building bonds for the construction, acquisition and equipment of school buildings in the district (including the rehabilitation, renovation, expansion and improvement thereof), the purchase of the necessary sites for school buildings, and the purchase of new school buses and levying of the tax in payment thereof.

Lamar Consolidated $445.5 million Bond: Passed 60%

Missouri City:Council Pos. A:

• Yolanda Ford..........67%
• Sonja Giddings......32%

Missouri City Charter Amendments:
Charter Amendment Prop A: Passed 83%

Article III of the Charter of the City of Missouri City be amended to clarify that the mayor pro tem of the city council may be elected at the first regular city council meeting following a runoff election.

Charter Amendment Prop B: Passed 56%

Article IV of the Charter of the City of Missouri City be amended to remove the requirement that the city manager must be bonded at city expense in an amount not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

Charter Amendment C: Passed 68%

Article IV of the Charter of the City of Missouri City be amended to provide that the city manager may appoint, suspend, and remove department directors and assistant city managers without the concurrence of the city council.

Charter Amendment D: Passed 52%

Article IV of the Charter of the City of Missouri City be amended to allow the city manager to establish, combine, discontinue, redesignate, or combine city departments.

Charter Amendment E: Passed 83%

Article VI of the Charter of the City of Missouri City be amended to make the Charter consistent with City of Missouri City Resolution No. R-16-32, adopted on October 17, 2016, changing the City's election date from May to November.

Charter Amendent F: Passed 79%

Article VII of the Charter of the City of Missouri City be amended to change the name of the city's finance department to the "financial services department"

Charter Amendment G: Passed 77%

Article IX of the Charter of the City of Missouri City be amended to change the City of Missouri City's fiscal year from July 1 through June 30 to October 1 through September 30

HOUSTON PROPOSTIONS:
PROPOSITION A : Passed 77%
The issuance of $1 billion pension obligation bonds for the purpose of funding a portion of the unfunded liability of the City with respect to the Houston Police Officers' Pension System and the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System as contemplated by the pension reform plan contained in Senate Bill 2190 (adopted in the 85th (2017) Texas Legislature, Regular Session), and the levying of taxes sufficient for the payment thereof and interest thereon.
PROPOSITION B: Passed 75%
The issuance of $159 million public safety improvement bonds for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation and equipment of public safety permanent improvements for the police and fire departments and the levying of taxes sufficient for the payment thereof and interest thereon.
PROPOSITION C: Passed 75%
The issuance of $104 million park improvement bonds for the conservation, improvement, acquisition, construction and equipment of neighborhood parks, recreational facilities and bayous, including such green spaces along all bayous to create an integrated system of bayou walking, running and bicycle trails to enhance, preserve and protect the health of citizens, water quality, natural habitat and native wildlife and the levying of taxes sufficient for the payment thereof and interest thereon.
PROPOSITION D: Passed 74%
The issuance of $109 million public facility improvement bonds for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, remediation and equipment of permanent improvements that support public health and wellness, sanitation and other essential governmental and general services of the City and the levying of taxes sufficient for the payment thereof and interest thereon.
PROPOSITION E: Passed 72%
The issuance of $123 million library improvement bonds for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation and equipment of the public library system and the levying of taxes sufficient for the payment thereof and interest thereon.

STATE PROPOSITIONS:
PROPOSITION 1: Passed 87%
"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of part of the market value of the residence homestead of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran if the residence homestead was donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization for less than the market value of the residence homestead and harmonizing certain related provisions of the Texas Constitution."
PROPOSITION 2: Passed 65%
"The constitutional amendment to establish a lower amount for expenses that can be charged to a borrower and removing certain financing expense limitations for a home equity loan, establishing certain authorized lenders to make a home equity loan, changing certain options for the refinancing of home equity loans, changing the threshold for an advance of a home equity line of credit, and allowing home equity loans on agricultural homesteads."
PROPOSITION 3: Passed 77%
"The constitutional amendment limiting the service of certain officeholders appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate after the expiration of the person's term of office."
PROPOSITION 4: Passed 66%
"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to require a court to provide notice to the attorney general of a challenge to the constitutionality of a state statute and authorizing the legislature to prescribe a waiting period before the court may enter a judgment holding the statute unconstitutional."
PROPOSITION 5: Passed 66%
"The constitutional amendment on professional sports team charitable foundations conducting charitable raffles."
PROPOSITION 6: Passed 85%
"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a first responder who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty."
PROPOSITION 7: Passed 65%
"The constitutional amendment relating to legislative authority to permit credit unions and other financial institutions to award prizes by lot to promote savings."

For election results on other races, click here.