Surprise Council sets November bond election

The Surprise City Council voted 4-3 Thursday to call a November election asking voters to decide whether the city should issue General Obligation Bonds to fund a variety of civic improvements.
The council action follows a recommendation by the council-appointed Citizens Bond Committee that voters decide whether to authorize the bond capacity.
Voters will see a proposed bond package of $184,891,600 divided among transportation, public safety, parks and recreation and economic development improvements with the majority, $156.6 million, for transportation.
If approved, the city would be able to sell bonds to fund the civic improvements.  The bonds would be repaid by Surprise property owners through secondary property taxes. 
Currently, the city has no secondary property tax general obligation bond debt.  The committee recommends limiting the tax rate to service the bond debt to a maximum $.99 per $1,000 of full cash value. That computes to a maximum $178 per year for a home valued at $180,000, according to city staff.
Mayor Lyn Truitt, Vice Mayor Joe Johnson, Councilmembers John Williams and Roy Villanueva voted "yes."  Councilmembers John Longabaugh, Richard Alton and Skip Hall voted "no."
Election Day is Nov. 3.