Northwest school district voters approved a $255 million bond issue Tuesday to build a high school and middle school and upgrade other facilities and programs to handle growth over the next few years.
In unofficial results, the bond issue passed by 61 percent in Tarrant County and 57 percent in Denton County, but Wise County voted 55 percent against.The bond package will increase property taxes by 7.75 cents per $100 of assessed value, officials said.Projecting a 5,800 student increase by the 2017-18 school year, the district -- which has 27 schools in Tarrant, Denton and Wise counties -- based its request on an 8 to 19 percent annual growth over the last decade, Superintendent Karen Rue said.Besides the new high school and middle school, which will be built on 137 acres in the north Fort Worth/Haslet area, the bond issue calls for program enhancements for science, math and environmental students and updates for technology and security.Voters in the Northwest district have approved each of the past three bond elections.Unofficial results from other ballots show:GrapevineVoters approved the proposed sale of almost $70 million in general obligation bonds for construction of a new public safety building and the doubling in size of the city's community recreation center.More than 77 percent of the voters approved both propositions on the ballot by late Tuesday evening."The people have supported both propositions in a traditional manner," Mayor William D. Tate said"They also seem to support projects that improve the quality of life in our community," Tate said.Proposition No. 1 is for bonds to construct a 108,000-square-foot public safety building to house the city's municipal court, police detention center, law enforcement facilities and fire headquarters. Construction is estimated to cost $38.5 million.Assistant City Manager Jennifer Hibbs said the building will help "the efficiency of both departments working together under one roof."Proposition No. 2 calls for bonds to add 60,000 square feet to the recreation center, the Community Activities Center. It will include a senior center, indoor pool, multipurpose rooms, game room, lockers, meeting rooms and other amenities. Plans also call for the senior activities center to move there.Costs are estimated at $30 million.BenbrookCharlie Anderson took City Council Place 2, garnering 62 percent of the vote compared with 38 percent for Candace Spoon Blair. Rickie Allison and Mark Washburn were unopposed for Places 4 and 6, respectively.EvermanVoters approved a pair of general obligation bonds. Proposition 1 -- for up to $1.5 million for drainage, street, curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements and utility relocations -- passed with 78 percent. Proposition 2 -- for up to $1 million to build, expand and equip parks -- received 67 percent approval.Pelican BayVoters preferred William Morley for Alderman Place 3, with 51 percent over John Shumate's 49 percent, and Glen Oberg for Alderman Place 4 by 48 percent over Sabra Swaim's 30 percent and write-in candidate Rusty Rogers' 21 percent.SaginawA special election put Jackie D. Nethery into the unexpired term of City Council Place 6, which will expire in May 2014, with 48 percent. Challenger Chris Barngrover got 28 percent, while Gary Barber received 24 percent.Trophy ClubVoters shifted a quarter percent of local sales and use taxes from the Trophy Club Economic Development Corp. 4A to the Trophy Club Economic Development Corp. 4B, with 73 percent of voters approving.White SettlementVoters sent Danny Anderson into City Council Place 4 with 44 percent, compared with 30 percent for Paul Moore, 18 percent for Daniel Munoz Sr. and 8 percent for George Klecan. Steve Ott took Place 5 by 54 percent over Garry Wilson's 46 percent.All five charter amendments on White Settlement ballots passed with margins from 68 to 74 percent.Lake Worth school districtLiane Price led in the school board Place 6 race by 56 percent over Donna Hutson's 44 percent. Steve Atchison took Place 5 with 72 percent over Gary Stuard's 28 percent.Armando Velazquez and Jerry Welch were unopposed for Places 3 and 7, respectively.This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.Terry Evans, 817-390-7620Twitter: @fwstevansHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
