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14-Bond Election MailerItem No. 14 memorandum TO: Mayor & City Council FROM: John Godwin, City Manager SUBJECT: BOND ELECTION DATE: April 3, 2017 BACKGROUND: At the last regular council meeting, the city council briefly discussed an educational two -page mailer to be sent out in April to all voters regarding the May 6 bond election. The attached draft closely follows the layout used in 2013 during a bond election for water and sewer infrastructure improvements. STATUS OF ISSUE: We want to make sure the mailer is both thorough and accurate, and helps voters fully understand exactly what the parks and streets propositions are, and how they will be paid for. The April 10 meeting will give the council one final opportunity to make changes before we begin production and distribution. BUDGET: Cost of printing and mailing will be paid from budgeted funds. RECOMMENDATION: Make changes as needed, and authorize publication of the mailer. CITY of PARIS BOND ELECTION Facts You Need To Know On Saturday, May 6, Paris citizens will be asked to vote For or Against the sale of $9.5 million in bonds to re -build local streets, and $500,000 for park improvements. Background • The city owns and maintains approximately 174 miles of city streets. • The proposed street bonds will be used to rebuild collector streets that are most in need of replacement due to deterioration, traffic counts, frequency of repairs, and the condition of the base under the pavement. • The proposed park bonds will be used to replace outdated and dangerous park equipment, and complete other park improvements. How would the bonds be paid for? • The city would increase its property tax rate by approximately 5 cents per $100 of valuation. • This increase would still leave the tax rate lower than it was only a few years ago, since the city rate has been decreased six times in the last 12 years. • Because Paris Junior College will be reducing its tax rate, the total tax rate paid by Paris property owners will actually go down. Who would manage the work? • Once work begins, we will use multiple professional engineering firms to design and manage the street work. • By law, the projects must be competitively and publicly bid. • Park work will be done by parks vendors and city staff. • Bond money may only be used for its stated purpose— streets and parks in this case. VnTINr; The following language will appear on your ballot. You will be asked to vote For or Against. "Shall the City Council of the City of Paris, Texas, be authorized to issue the bonds of the City ... in the aggregate principal amount of $9,500,000 ... for the purpose of constructing, improving, extending, expanding, upgrading and developing streets and roads, bridges and intersections including utility relocation, landscaping, sidewalks, traffic safety and operational improvements, the purchase of any necessary right -of -way, drainage and other related costs, and shall the City Council be authorized to levy and cause to be assessed and collected annual ad valorem taxes in an amount sufficient to pay the annual interest on the bonds and provide a sinking fund to pay the bonds at maturity? " "Shall the City Council of the City of Paris, Texas, be authorized to issue the bonds of the City ... in the aggregate principal amount of $500,000 ... for the purpose of improving and equipping parks, trails and recreational facilities, and shall the City Council be authorized to levy and cause to be assessed and collected annual ad valorem taxes in an amount sufficient to pay the annual interest on the bonds and provide a sinking fund to pay the bonds at maturity ?" Early voting If you wish to vote early, you may do so from April 24 through May 2, except no early voting will be held on Saturdays and Sundays. On April 24 -25, early voting by personal appearance will be from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. On April 26 -28, and May 1 -2, early voting by personal appearance shall be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Early voting will occur at the Lamar County Courthouse Annex. Election Day Regular voting occurs Saturday, May 6, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Where to Vote on Election Dav If you live in Council Places 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, you will vote in the Old County Courtroom of the Lamar County Courthouse Annex, located at 231 Lamar Avenue. If you live in Council Places 1 or 2, you will vote at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds Event Center, 1875 Fitzhugh. You may also vote by mail. To do so, request a ballot from: Tricia Johnson; Lamar County Elections Administrator; 231 Lamar Avenue; Paris, Texas 75460.