Sugar Land residents could see another general obligation bond, or GO bond, on their November election ballots.
What residents need to know
City Council member Suzanne Whatley said officials with the city of Sugar Land are considering a GO bond to address a number of community needs, including:
- Public
safety
- Infrastructure
- Parks and recreation
With the new $20.36 million price tag for the proposed animal shelter, a 2019 voter-approved bond project, the bond could also add additional funds to ensure the shelter is built to
its full need, Director of Special Projects Jennifer Brown said at a May 10 Animal Advisory Board meeting.
The cost of the facility was previously estimated to be approximately $9 million before construction inflation and more space was required for sheltered dogs by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians.
Remember this?
In November 2019, Sugar Land
residents approved an approximately $91 million bond featuring four propositions, including:
- $47.6 million: drainage projects
- $26.3 million: public safety and public facilities, including $11.5 million to fund a new emergency operations
center and public safety dispatch building
- $10.26 million: street projects
- $6.6 million: a new animal shelter
The 2019 bond increased the city’s property tax rate $0.03, according to the city’s website.
Prior to 2019, the last bond for the city of Sugar Land was in 2013 to support parks projects, according to the city’s website.
Looking ahead
Sugar Land City Council will discuss bond options at an upcoming workshop on May 28, Brown said.
The city has until Aug. 19 to call the bond election, according to the Texas Secretary of State website. The November uniform election will be held on Nov. 5 with early voting running from Oct. 21-Nov. 1.
