54% of voters approve Bastrop ISD's $321.5 million bond in May 6 election

A $321.5 million school bond proposed by the Bastrop school district received support from 54% voters on Saturday. The bond received 1,847 yes votes to 1,570 no votes.

The bond package will build the district’s ninth and 10th elementary schools, upgrade campus safety and add new rooms to accommodate more students.

In the race for Bastrop mayor, Dock Jackson and Lyle Nelson are headed to a runoff. Jackson earned 429 votes (32.5%) while Nelson finished second with 412 votes (31.8%). Deborah Jones had 377 votes (28.8%) and Elizabeth Northcutt was in fourth with 102 (7.7%).

In the Place 3 City Council race, Kevin Plunkett defeated Carrie Taylor with 64% of the vote, 808-454. Plunkett ran for reelection after earning the seat in a special election last year following a City Council resignation.

In the Place 2 race to fulfill the final year of Drusilla Rogers' term, Cynthia Sanders Meyer won with 54% of the vote over Gary Moss at 30% and Christine Long at 16%. Sanders Meyer had 698 votes, Moss had 387 and Long 199.

Bastrop school board President Billy Moore won 56.5% of the vote to reclaim his Place 3 seat against Joseph B. Thompson, who had 43.5%. In the Place 4 race, Priscilla Kay Ruiz had 60% of the vote to Greg Mueller's 40%.

Bastrop ISD bond

With the passage of the bond package, the district will spend $17.7 million to build a multipurpose facility for district police and install new security cameras. An additional $31 million will be allocated to building renovations, additional classrooms, playground equipment and furniture.

The bulk of the bond package — $272.8 million — will build the new schools, convert the intermediate schools to middle schools, replace Mina Elementary School and add new fine arts and academic classrooms, according to the district.

Since 2018, the district’s enrollment has grown from 11,081 students to 12,506, a 12.9% increase, according to the district. It expects enrollment will reach 19,601 by 2033, a 56.7% increase.

Despite its growth, Bastrop hasn’t seen a new school open since 2009, said Kristi Lee, deputy superintendent.

Mayor's race

Jackson, 70, has spent three decades in and out of City Hall as a council member and as mayor pro tem.

Jackson also wants to “make our city a more user-friendly city for developers and for the citizens that we represent.” He said Bastrop needs to update its zoning policy and referenced a business that was ready to open but spent a year waiting for approval of its sign.

“Developers have deserted the city of Bastrop because of the process,” Jackson said.

Jackson wants to focus on “jobs and training” by bringing workforce development facilities such as trade schools and colleges to Bastrop, “so that when new companies decide to come in, we’ll have the workforce that’s already trained and ready to go,” Jackson said.

Jackson said that in addition to his experience on the City Council, he has been president of the Texas Municipal League and worked with the National League of Cities.

“My dedication and genuine love of my city, and my commitment to serve the public has prepared me for this position as the top elected official of the city. My desire to serve is sincere and I want to continue to do so,” Jackson said.

Nelson, 69, is the chief of staff for the Capital Area Rural Transportation System. He has served two terms on the City Council, including as mayor pro tem.

“The biggest issues facing our city is managing the growth that is upon us, as well as maintaining and building the public infrastructure to serve our constituents now and into the future,” Nelson said.

Nelson said he is focused on establishing “an open inclusive city government that is responsible for and responsive to all of our citizens,” and named improving infrastructure as a top priority, “including roads, sidewalks, water, wastewater, parks & recreation for all ages, facilities and drainage.”

Nelson stated his support for the city manager to review the development code and believes his experience sets him apart from the others. “I am the best candidate because of my experience combined with a result-oriented approach to any issue before us,” Nelson said.

Jones, 64, has been a property appraiser in Bastrop for more than 22 years, and served on the City Council from 2016 to 2019.

Northcutt did not respond to the Statesman for comment on her campaign before the election.

Place 2 race

Cynthia Sanders Meyer, 62, attended the University of Texas studying communications before choosing a career in health and fitness. She said she opened Bastrop’s first fitness center, which she has owned and operated for 37 years downtown. Sanders Meyer also has been a commissioner on the Zoning and Planning Commission for six years.

Sanders Meyer wants to amend city codes that she said are harmful to low-income residents and small businesses, and also wants to improve infrastructure and parking downtown. While doing this, she wants to maintain Bastrop’s “uniqueness and authenticity.”

Sanders Meyer also wants to look at the possibility of adding non-paid parking garages and finding ways the city could be “increasing communication with all residents, old and new.”

Moss, 71, has been retired for more than 20 years, but was the owner and operator of Representatives for Technical Manufacturers in South Austin. He has served on the Bastrop Zoning Board of Adjustments for three years.

Long, who did not respond to the Statesman's questions before the election, has served on her Hunters Crossing neighborhood’s government council and on the steering committee for the Parks and Recreation master plan.

Place 3 race

Plunkett, 54, owns three restaurants in downtown Bastrop and has served on the board of directors for Visit Bastrop, the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation, and was the board chairman of the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce.

Plunkett said his drive to serve on the City Council comes from his experience as a restaurant owner, and the experience of renovating one of his restaurants in 2020.

The process of dealing with Bastrop’s planning department, Plunkett said, exposed him to what he views as unnecessary burdens for small businesses.

“They use these arbitrary rules to just make life difficult for people,” Plunkett said.

Plunkett highlighted the work he has done on City Council lowering the price of appealing an administrative decision from $3,800 to $500 as a reason voters should elect him again.

Caylor, 32, is the vice president of corporate administration at Infinity Water Solutions, the former director of development services for the city of Rollingwood, and she has been on Bastrop’s Planning and Zoning Commission for two and a half years.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Bastrop ISD's $321.5 million bond gets 54% support in May 6 election