EL PASO, Texas (KTEP) - It is Election Day and while much attention is on the Presidential race, there are also local elections for El Pasoans to consider. Over 182,000 people voted early, which is about 35 percent of the 523,969 registered voters in El Paso, according to the county elections department.
Polls close at 7 p.m.
There are important races at the local level for city of El Paso Mayor, City Council districts and a proposition on whether to proceed or cancel the proposed Downtown multipurpose performing arts and entertainment center.
At the county level, there are various items on the ballot. Races for county offices include: District Attorney, Sheriff and County Commissioner of Precinct 1.
There are also propositions for voters to consider. The county is asking El Pasoans to vote on whether to authorize $323.8 million dollars in debt for various proposed projects countywide.
That includes improvements at Ascarate park and other parks from Fabens to Canutillo. The propositions also ask voters to approve funds for a new facility for the Medical Examiner's Office, improvements to county facilities, renovations for the County Coliseum and a new County Animal Shelter.
The bonds would also pay for trails designed for walking, hiking and biking. If all five propositions pass, the cost would be about $60 dollars a year on top of taxes already paid to the county for the average homeowner.
The hospital district also has a $396 million dollar bond for improvements to existing facilities and to expand services. Those include: a geriatric clinic in Central El Paso, a center in Horizon City, an ambulatory surgical center and emergency care center on the West Side. It also includes just over $24 million dollars for a new burn center and critical care services.
The bond initiative would also dedicate over $134 million dollars for new surgical suites, a cardiac catheterization suite, imaging technology and general improvements at University Medical Center.
And, the bond would add $30 million dollars to a partnership with Texas Tech Health El Paso for a comprehensive cancer care center. If approved, the bond would cost taxpayers nearly $6 a month on top of the taxes already paid to the hospital district.
