election

When Arlington residents head to the ballot box on Nov. 8, they won’t just choose candidates for office. They’ll also be able to vote on four local bond issues and two state constitutional amendments.

Taxpayers will be asked to approve nearly $315.8 million in general bond obligations. Additionally, they’ll be able to vote for or against adding “right-to-work” and property tax exemption amendments to the Virginia constitution.

Members of the voting public can only vote “yes” or “no” to each of the four bond questions on the ballot. Each question rolls multiple projects into larger categories.

In the $138,830,000 Arlington Public Schools bond:

• $26.03 million to build an addition at the Stratford building to add 339 middle school seats;
• $78.4 million for construction of the new facility for H-B Woodlawn at the Wilson site, adding an estimated 775 seats;
• $12 million to renovate the Career Center/Arlington Tech to add 300 seats;
• $10 million for planning and design to build an additional 1,300 secondary seats at to-be-determined locations;
• $12.4 million for HVAC, roofing, and other infrastructure improvement projects at existing APS buildings.

In the $98,850,000 Community Infrastructure bond:

• $46.46 million to replace the Lubber Run Community Center with a new building that would have underground parking, a new gym and ADA-compliant courts and playground areas;
• $12 million for a new parking deck at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School;
• $12 million for neighborhood conservation and street improvements, residential traffic management, park enhancement, street lighting, beautification and landscaping projects;
• $9.6 million for facilities maintenance on items like roofs, mechanical and electrical systems, and replacement and renewal of interior and exterior finishes. The money would also be used to keep those facilities up to code and within good working order;
• $6.25 million to invest in county-owned buildings at Courthouse Plaza and fund new security and accessibility standards in those buildings;
• $5.35 million for a new 31,000 square foot urban plaza in Nauck that would feature public art, the history of the neighborhood and other ornamental elements;
• $3.24 million to convert and expand the existing Barcroft gym into a gymnastics program to meet increased demand;
• $1.5 million for a new county childcare facility;
• $1.33 million to centralize monitoring and maintenance of building systems;
• $1.12 million for the design of the forthcoming Fire Station 8.

(more…)