Galveston County has been in dire need of some improvements to their infrastructure in recent years, and finally, there is a solution on the table to fix it. Next month, on May 3rd, voters in the county will be deciding on a new $186 million bonds for the county.
All in all, it will include three propositions for various improvements to the county. The bond will focus on $74 million transportation infrastructure improvements (Prop A), $75 million on facility renovations (Prop B), and $36 million for drainage projects (Prop C). All of those are things needed in Galveston County. But as with any bond, there are plenty of people, including Republicans, who are vehemently against the bond.
Most of the criticism stems from people claiming the bond will only intend to benefit destination casinos in the area, should the state legalize gambling.
However, Galveston County Commissioner Dr. Robin Armstrong says that could not be further from the truth.
"They are absolutely wrong. We cannot take money earmarked for transportation projects and use it for anything else. We can't take money issue for drainage and use it for anything else...these bonds are very, very restrictive," he says.
Critics have also debated the impact on taxpayers, fearing it will cause another tax increase. But that is also false. Galveston County has kept their taxes below the no new revenue rate for a long time and have actually cut them. According to Dr. Armstrong, that will continue even if the bond is passed.
Galveston County has a good track history with bonds as well. Their most recent one in 2017, they used all the money for the projects they needed, and now it is time for another to help keep the county up to date.
The idea too that the money will be used to generate interest for casinos is outlandish mostly because Galveston County has fought against that very thing for years.
"I have fought at the legislative level against it...there is no way, as a county commissioner, we will allow anything like that to go on," says Dr. Armstrong.
One of the other pillars for the opposition is their claim this bond has been handled in secret, behind closed doors. When, in fact, this bond was negotiated and spoken about in open court, free for the public to view.
So, if you are a voter in Galveston County, Dr. Armstrong says the best thing to do is educate yourself on the bond and look at the fine print.
"They should look and see how much it will be, what they are getting...we are extremely transparent in how we are doing it," says Dr. Armstrong. "We are trying to improve the services for people in Galveston County, and we will not have to raise taxes at all."
Early voting begins Tuesday, April 22, and ends Tuesday, April 29. Election Day is Saturday, May 3.
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