On Nov. 5, Corpus Christi voters will vote on six ballot propositions focused on issuing bonds and changes to the local sales tax.

Bond Measures

The first four propositions on the ballot are bond measures.

A bond, specifically a municipal bond, is a means for local governments to pay for public projects. They are a form of debt in which the city sells bonds to investors, who can then claim interest on the bonds.

The interest payments are sometimes funded by the revenue generated by the project itself.

In all bond measures up for vote, a “Yes” vote would support the authorization of the bonds, while a “No” vote would oppose the authorization. Overall, there are $174.95 million in bonds up for vote this November.

Proposition A

The streets bond measure would authorize the city to issue up to $89.5 million in bonds for street, sidewalk, drainage, and related improvements.

Proposition B

The Parks and Recreation bond measure would authorize the city to issue up to $37.6 million in bonds for park and recreational facilities.

The facilities that would be funded by these bonds are Oso Golf Center Clubhouse, TC Ayers Aquatic Center, Labonte Park, Sherril Veterans Memorial Park, Greenwood Sports Complex, St. Andrew Park, Cole Park, Commodores Park, Peary Place Park, Bill Witt Park and Dimmit Pier Boat Ramp.

Proposition C

The public safety bond measure would authorize the city to issue up to $45 million in bonds for the maintenance and restoration of public safety facilities.

The facilities that would be funded by these bonds are Fire Station No. 8, Fire Station No. 9, Fire Station No. 10, Fire Station No. 11, Police Substation-Far South, Police Substation-Northwest and Police Substation-South/Central.

Proposition D

The cultural facilities bond measure would authorize the city to issue up to $2.85 million in bonds for city cultural facilities.

The facilities that would be funded by these bonds are the Community/Senior Center Complex, Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia Library and the historical houses in Heritage Park.

Sales Tax Measures

There are two sales tax measures on the ballot this November, both pertaining to repurposing previously approved sales and use taxes.

Neither measure would increase existing taxes, but merely repurpose the funds of existing taxes to other or expanded projects.

Proposition E

The Streets Arterial and Collector and Recreational Community Facilities sales tax measure would repurpose the expiring 0.125% per $1 sales and use tax, which was originally for arena improvements, for use funding infrastructure improvement projects pertaining to the city-wide arterial and collector streets, and city-owned recreational and community facilities. The repurposed tax would remain in place for a term of 20 years.

The facilities that would be funded by the repurposed tax are the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, Art Museum of South Texas, Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures, Harbor Playhouse, the Watergarden, Selena Auditorium, the Convention Center and the Arena.

Proposition F

The Flood Control, Drainage, and Coastal Resiliency sales tax measure would repurpose the existing 0.125% per $1 sales tax, which was originally for seawall improvements, to be used for infrastructure improvement projects pertaining to downtown seawall flood control structures and other city-wide flood control, drainage, stormwater and coastal resiliency projects.