On May 6, Dallas residents will vote on eight ballot propositions that have a total price tag of $174,700,000, and I hope all registered voters will go to the polls. The actual wording is as follows:

Proposition 1. The issuance of $87,100,000 general obligation street and thoroughfare bonds.

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Proposition 2. The issuance of $5,000,000 general obligation police headquarters facility bonds.

Proposition 3. The issuance of $25,200,000 general obligation flood protection and storm drainage improvement bonds.

Proposition 4. The issuance of $24,100,000 general obligation major park, recreational and community facilities bonds.

Proposition 5. The issuance of $19,200,000 general obligation neighborhood park, playground and recreation facilities bonds.

Proposition 6. The issuance of $2,900,000 general obligation facilities repair and improvement bonds.

Proposition 7. The issuance of $2,200,000 general obligation fire protection facilities bonds.

Proposition 8. The issuance of $9,000,000 general obligation White Rock Lake improvement bonds.

What do these propositions really include? I’d need the entire paper to cover all of them, so I’ll hit the high points here and cover them in more detail at a town hall meeting April 10 at 7 p.m. at the Lake Highlands High School student center, 9449 Church.

Streets: The projects in Proposition 1 are earmarked for street reconstruction and resurfacing, intersection improvement and alley repairs. Northeast Dallas street projects include a part of Northwest Highway (Shiloh to LBJ); Self Plaza; Audelia (Shoreview to Lanshire); Ferndale (Northwest Highway to Kingsley); Galva; Lanett Circle; Meadow Knoll; Moss Farm; Rolling Rock and Thunderbird.

The proposition also includes the City’s share for a number of State-sponsored projects, including six intersection improvements and interim ramps at LBJ and Miller Road.

Police Headquarters: Proposition 2 dollars would renovate an existing building for a police headquarters facility. Currently, police units occupy leased space in eight or nine private buildings as well as all of old City Hall (the building in which Lee Harvey Oswald was shot).

While a specific building has not been identified, this amount will cover the cost of major renovation of enough space to consolidate the units currently dispersed throughout the Central Business District. There is no impact on the fire substations.

Flood Control Projects: Proposition 3 funds a large number of flood and erosion protection projects. In Lake Highlands, this includes long-awaited erosion control at Jackson Branch and Royal Lane and engineering for the McCree/Jackson Branch flood area.

City Facility Renovation: Proposition 4 provides public matching dollars for renovation and expansion of existing City facilities, including Fair Park, the Dallas Zoo, the Dallas Arboretum and Old City Park.

The $20.6 million allocated for these facilities will be matched by $33.4 million in private funds.

The proposition also includes $3.9 million for the development of phase one of a Hispanic Cultural Center. At the present time, no matching dollars have been committed for this project.

Park and Recreation Centers: Neighborhood parks and recreation centers will be the beneficiaries of Proposition 5. In Lake Highlands, anticipated projects are an addition to Lake Highlands North Recreation Center and the purchase of land north of LBJ for the development of a recreation center.

Rehabilitation of City Facilities: Proposition 6 makes possible major rehabilitation of the City’s facilities, including City Hall; and a portion of the Dallas Museum of Art; Casa View and Skyline Libraries; and certain modifications to bring us into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Fire Station: Proposition 7 replaces the fire station in Oak Cliff, which is more than 40 years old and simply worn out. A portion of the money would be used to upgrade diesel exhaust systems in fire stations throughout the City.

White Rock Lake: Finally, the $9 million in Proposition 8 will be used to desilt White Rock Lake.

More Questions? I’m sure this brief overview leaves many questions unanswered, and I promise to provide as much detail as you want. If you can’t attend my town hall meeting April 10 at Lake Highlands High School, please call my office at 670-4068 to get more information.