Public Information Office
210 S. McDonald St. Suite 636
McKinney, TX  75069

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Leigh Hornsby
Public Information Officer
972-548-4772
publicrelations@co.collin.tx.us

October 19, 2003

Early voting begins Monday in Collin County bond election

(McKinney, TX) – Collin County voters will consider a proposed $229 million bond package on November 4th that would provide, among other things, funding for regionally significant transportation projects and parks facilities throughout the county. Early voting for the November 4th election begins Monday.

The 2003 bond program is divided into three components: Transportation, Parks & Open Space and Facilities. For Proposition 1, which is the transportation component, the Commissioners Court approved a proposed allocation of $142 million on countywide and joint city-county projects.

The transportation bond sub-committee deemed four projects, which would cost a total of $48.5 million, regionally significant. The projects are: State Highway 121 from Preston Road to U.S. 75, FM 2551 (Murphy Road) from FM 544 to Parker Road, Betsy Lane from Dublin Road to FM 2551 and the extension of the Dallas North Tollway from U.S. 380 to FM 428.

The remainder of the funding would be available for a 50% match with 14 individual Collin County cities, and a portion of the bond money would go into a discretionary fund to provide money for critical transportation projects as the need is identified.

Proposition 2, which is Parks & Open Space, would designate $11 million for permanent improvement bonds for the acquisition and improvement of land.

The bond package would also provide approximately $76 million in funding for three facilities projects: Phase I of a new Collin County courts facility, the expansion of the county’s juvenile detention center and the expansion of the county jail.

Proposition 3 is for a new justice center that would be constructed off Community Avenue in McKinney near the Collin County Sheriff’s Office and county jail. The structure would be home to 14 district courts and provide shell space for future expansion. The bond program would also provide funds for an additional 48 beds at the juvenile detention center. And, the third component of the proposed Facilities bond package is the expansion of the county jail. A new cluster would add 288 beds.

Early voting is October 20-25 and 27-31.The complete early voting schedule can be found by visiting http://www.collincountytexas.gov/elections/election_information/index.jsp

Additional information about the Collin County Bond Program can be found on the county’s website at: www.collincountytexas.gov.

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