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Mayor Parker Reflects on Passage of City Bond Issues

Posted byHoumanitarian

Laurie Johnson, KUHF Public Radio
Now that Houston voters have authorized the city to take out more than $400 million dollars in bonds for various improvements — Houston Mayor Annise Parker says she’s ready to get to work on various city-wide improvements to parks, libraries, public safety and affordable housing.

All of the bond measures on the ballot passed, including $410 million for five City of Houston initiatives.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker expressed what a lot of local officials were feeling.
“Woo hoo! Yes! Election’s over and all my stuff passed!”

Parker quickly got back to her normal businesslike manner. She says she was concerned about possible sticker shock when voters saw the amount of bond dollars on the ballot.

“The other two bond items had significant tax increases with them and I tried hard not to, and did succeed, in not bringing forward a bond item that had a tax increase attached to it. So I was concerned about sticker shock, but as the election progressed it became clear that Houstonians were feeling that it was the right thing to do and the right time to invest.”

While all five of the city’s bond measures passed, Prop E passed with a closer margin — 55 to 44 percent. Prop E authorizes $15 million for affordable housing.
(Hear more of this story at KUHF Public Radio)

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