San Marcos Residents Pass Bonds For Library, Public Safety And Schools

“San Marcos is growing quickly, and I don’t foresee it slowing down anytime soon. These bonds are the first step in addressing the growing needs of businesses and our thriving community.”

Both the public safety and library bond propositions in the May 6 election passed by wide margins, paving the way for significant expansions and improvements to the San Marcos Police Department headquarters, the San Marcos Public Library, and building a new fire station and fire training facility.

Proposition 1, dealing with public safety, passed with 75.62 percent of the vote—1,627 for and 539 against.

Proposition 2, dealing with the San Marcos Public Library improvements, passed with 76.8 percent of the vote—1,705 for and 515 against.

The election had at 6.98 percent voter turnout, with a total of 2,252 voters out of 32,273 registered.

The two bond initiatives which will increase the tax rate by a projected total of 8.37 cents per $100 of valuation (based on current estimates and valuations), or $125.55 per year for a $150,000 home (the approximate average home value in San Marcos).

Public Safety: Projected tax rate increase of 5.3 cents per $100 of valuation

Police Department renovations (Capital costs $5.5 million): These renovations will make improvements to the existing 911 center, add security and perimeter fencing, make parking lot improvements, replace existing HVAC equipment, and create new offices and functional improvements to the police station.

Holland Fire Station #2 relocation (Capital costs $5.2 million): This project will relocate Fire Station #2 to a new site recommended by the Task Force and replaces the 63-year-old structure that the station has occupied since its opening in 1954.

Highpointe Fire Station #8 construction (Capital costs $4.5 million, ongoing operating costs $1.4 million): This contractually obligated fire station is being funded in part by the developer of the Highpointe community and will be located on the east side of IH-35, a section of the city that has not had dedicated fire resources for a number of years. The project includes the purchase of a fire truck for the station and includes $1.4 million for personnel and station operating costs.

Fire Training Field (Capital costs $2 million, ongoing operating costs $50,000): This facility will allow San Marcos Firefighters to conduct training including but not limited to residential and high rise live fire training, rope and trench rescue, confined space rescue, vehicle extrication, and fire, police, and EMS integrated response training. This type of training is not currently conducted since the nearest facility is in Buda and would take firefighters out of the City’s area and unable to respond if needed.

San Marcos Library Expansion: Projected tax rate increase of 3.07 cents per $100 of valuation

The Library Expansion (Capital cost $14.5 million, ongoing operating costs $500,000) This project would expand the existing library by approximately 29,000 square feet and renovate the existing facility, which was built in 1994 and served 373,334 people in the 2016 fiscal year.

In a statement from the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, “The San Marcos community spoke loud and clear; we must invest in our future,” said Heath Herrera. Herrera is Chair of the Chamber Education Committee.

“As community leaders, it is our duty to ensure we provide the needed resources to our schools, emergency responders, and our community library. With the passage of the bonds – we can look forward to kids learning in adequate class rooms, a library that can fully serve the community, and a more robust fire and police department,” Herrera continued.

“The Chamber is proud to see these measures pass with such overwhelming support,” says Chamber President & CEO Jason Mock. “San Marcos is growing quickly, and I don’t foresee it slowing down anytime soon. These bonds are the first step in addressing the growing needs of businesses and our thriving community.”