Laredo health officials outline $70 million bond to build new clinical facility, cite drop in overdose deaths

Laredo Public Health told the Drug and Alcohol Commission on Wednesday that the city will ask voters in May to approve a bond referendum that would fund a new clinical services facility and other capital projects.

The department said the proposed bond would include $70,000,000 for a new clinic — described in the meeting as roughly 60,000 square feet and intended to expand treatment capacity, screening and imaging services, and an infusion center. Winseva, introduced as the department’s director of services administrator, told commissioners the ballot measure will allow constituents to decide in May whether to authorize the funding.

The health department framed the bond as a long-range capital plan; Winseva noted the city’s last similar ballot measure dates to the early 1990s. She also said the department expects the package to generate only a modest tax increase, estimating “about 0.7¢ more to your taxes” and “no more than $10.15” in total tax increase as presented to the commission, and said staff can only provide information, not advocacy, to the public.

Why it matters: department leaders said expanded clinic capacity would let Laredo increase outpatient and treatment services — including opioid use disorder care — in one centralized facility and help sustain recent declines in overdose deaths. Public-health staff also described current harm-reduction efforts that would continue alongside the capital project.

Details from the presentation: Winseva said the department recorded 39 overdose deaths in 2024 compared with higher counts in preceding years and attributed the decline in part to community and commission efforts. The presentation highlighted three free community vending machines stocked with harm-reduction supplies (including naloxone) located at the passenger recreation center, another recreation center, and a site below the commission’s meeting building; staff reported 59 naloxone distributions from December through the most recent reporting period.

Commissioners asked about plans to expand the vending machines and about supply funding; Winseva said the machines are inexpensive to operate but depend on steady funding and community donations. She invited partner agencies to contribute supplies and logos for community-supported stocking of machines.

No formal action: the commission did not have quorum at Wednesday’s meeting and took no votes. Commissioners and staff said they will continue public information efforts about the ballot question and bring more detailed analysis on project scope, tax impacts and outreach to a future meeting.

Provenance: The health-department presentation and vending-machine details were provided by Winseva during the commission’s administrative report.