Finance committee forwards water/wastewater and school bond ordinances to full Assembly

The Assembly Finance Committee on June 3 voted to forward two proposed general obligation bond ordinances to the full Assembly.

Manager Kester presented a draft ordinance authorizing up to $9.4 million in general obligation bonds to finance water and wastewater capital improvements. Members asked about the utility’s capacity to execute projects and whether bond timing would conflict with ongoing rate increases and the administration’s proposed sales-tax allocations. Kester said bond proceeds would be issued and spent as projects come online and that the administration would manage debt issuance and timing to avoid creating an unconstrained multi‑year spending spike.

The committee approved forwarding the water/wastewater bond ordinance to the full Assembly (committee vote 6–2). Several members voiced reservations about adding another bond question to the ballot in the same year as proposed sales‑tax measures and potential citizen initiatives; others argued that aging utility infrastructure requires proactive investment.

The committee also advanced a second ordinance authorizing general obligation bonds of up to $16 million for school capital improvements. Superintendent Frank Hower told the committee that the district is updating a facility plan and that potential consolidations have been discussed but no decisions have been made. Members asked whether bond funds could be reallocated if a building’s use changed; staff said bond counsel and project oversight would guide any reallocation decisions. The committee moved the school bond ordinance forward without objection to the full Assembly for introduction and public hearing.

Both measures will appear before the full Assembly for introduction and public hearing on June 8; administration staff said they will finalise project lists, timing and outreach materials ahead of that meeting.