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City leaders in this East Texas town of 32,137 people, which traces its origin to 1779, are asking residents to approve a series of propositions this election that would allow them to borrow $44 million for capital improvements such as road repairs, upgrades to the fire department and storm drainage.
Unlike other local governments which typically detail all of their plans into one ballot question with one price tag, Nacogdoches split its projects into seven different ballot questions so each one could be considered on its merits alone. The proposed bonds would go toward improvements in: fire protection, storm drainage, the airport, city sidewalks, city streets, cemeteries and parks and recreation facilities.
Nacogdoches is one 218 local governments asking voters to approve new debt, or bonds, this fall for city, school, water district and county facility upgrades.With a limited city budget, officials say they often have to take a “Band-Aid” approach to repairs. And inflation has not helped, Bartlett said. What may have cost $1 million to solve 10 years ago will now cost closer to $2 million just to get caught up.