Municipal Archives


​Resources for Researching Bond Elections in Dallas,
1872-2017

​Pathfinder Number 5

The Citizens of Dallas authorize the City Council to issue debt to finance capital construction projects. Usually, these are large projects with a useful life of at least twenty years or extend to the life of the bonds. The debt is issued in the form of bonds which are governed by specific laws.  Citizens vote to accept a bond package listing specific projects with requested funds.

June 6, 1872
Bond Election held to issue $100,000 in bonds for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Passed (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 1, p. 93)
 
1875 to 1882
Bond information unavailable.

1882-1899
There is evidence that bonds were sold, but specific references to bond elections could not be found.  Projects included Waterworks, Water Supply, East Dallas City Public School Building, East Dallas Street Construction, Funding Bonds, Street Improvement, Sewer Improvement, Crematory, and City of Oak Cliff Waterworks.  Bond Certificates are available in Collection 1991-111: Municipal Bond Certificates.

January 1, 1902
Bond Election held to vote for waterworks improvements, amount unknown, mentioned in minute book volume 27, p.397.  Unclear whether this issue passed or if election was held; canvass not found.
 
August 26, 1902
Bond Election held to vote on three (3) capital improvement propositions, totaling $175,000.00.  Minute book volume 28, p. 175-76.  Passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 28, p. 175-176)

Waterworks
Police and fire stations
Street paving and improvements

February 29, 1904
Bond Election held to vote on $30,000.00 in gold coin to be spent on public schools.  Ordinance book volume 12, p. 201.  Passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 29, p. 523)
 
November 14, 1905
Bond Election held to vote on five (5) capital improvement propositions, totaling $328,280.00. Ordinance book volume 12, p. 445.  Mixed Results.  (Canvass Report: Minute book volume 31, p. 340) )

Water supply - failed
High school building - passed
School buildings - passed
Street improvements - passed
City jail – passed

Minute books renumbered beginning with Volume 1 in 1907.

April 7, 1908
Bond Election held to vote on a $25,000.00 for a reformatory or industrial or truant school for refractory or unprotected boys and girls.  Ordinance book volume 13, p. 537.  Passed.  (Canvass Report: Minute book volume 2, p. 152).
 
April 6, 1909
Bond Election held to vote on two (2) capital improvement propositions, totaling $700,000.00.  Ordinance book volume 14, p. 203.  Both propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 3, p. 261).

Improve water supply by constructing a reservoir dam and pump station with connecting mains.
Construct Grade School Buildings

April 5, 1910
Bond Election held to vote on seven (6) capital improvement propositions, totaling $1,300,000.00.  Ordinance book volume 14, p. 533-535.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 4, p. 459)

Sanitary sewers
Public schools
City hospital
Street improvements
Waterworks
Divert sewage from discharging into the Trinity River

April 4, 1911
Bond Election held to vote on $250,000 for public school buildings. Ordinance Book Volume 15, p. 416-417.  Passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 6, p. 35)

April 2, 1912
Bond Election held to vote on six (5) capital improvement propositions, totaling $1,300,000.00. Ordinance book volume 16, p. 464-465.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 7, p. 96)

Sanitary sewers
Public schools
City hall (2014 Main)
Waterworks

April 1, 1913
Bond Election held to vote on three (3) capital improvement propositions, totaling $1,150,000.00. Ordinance book volume 17, p. 237.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 8, p. 189-90)

Schools
Parks and playgrounds
Municipal electric lighting plant

April 7, 1914
Bond Election held to vote on two (2) capital improvement propositions, totaling 650,000.00. Ordinance book volume 18, p. 85.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 9, p. 230)

Sanitary sewers
Public schools

April 4, 1916
Bond Election held to vote on four (4) capital improvement propositions, totaling $1,050,000.00. Ordinance 138.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 11, p. 502)

Repeal lighting bonds passed April 1913
Park lands acquisition
Storm sewers
Municipal electric lighting plant

April 3, 1917

Bond Election held to vote for capital improvement bonds totaling $500,000 for public schools. Ordinance book volume 21, p. 32.  Passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 13, p. 321)

April 1, 1919
Bond Election held to vote for three (3) capital improvement propositions, totaling $2,300,000.00. Ordinance 439.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 15, p. 550)\

Parks and playgrounds
Street improvements
Public schools

April 6, 1920
Bond Election held to vote for five (5) capital improvement propositions, totaling $2,700,000.00. Ordinance 517.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 16, p. 585)

Public schools
Hospital building
Municipal abattoir or slaughter house
Waterworks
Sanitary sewers

April 5, 1921
Bond Election held to vote for two (2) capital improvement propositions, totaling $650,000.00. Ordinance 609.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 18, p. 77)
 
Water filtration plant for White Rock Reservoir
Incinerators

September 17, 1921
Bond Election held to vote for $1,250,000.00 bonds for street improvements.  Ordinance 682.  Passed. (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 18, p. 532)

April 4, 1922
Bond Election held to vote for two (2) capital improvement propositions, totaling $650,000.00. Ordinance 763. All propositions passed (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 19, p. 289-90)

Public schools
Sanitary sewers

April 3, 1923
Bond Election held to vote for seven (7) capital improvement propositions, totaling $8,325,000.00.  Ordinance 924.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 20 p. 136)

Public schools
Waterworks
Streets
Sewage disposal plant
Sanitary sewers
Fire stations
Parks and playgrounds

April 7, 1925
Bond Election held to vote for six (6) capital improvement propositions, totaling $3,000,000.00. Ordinance 1306.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 24 p. 136)

Public schools
Sanitary sewers
Street improvements
Storm sewers
Incinerators
Parks and playgrounds

December 15, 1927
Bond Election held to vote for fourteen (14) capital improvement propositions, totaling $23,900,000.00 Ordinance 1776.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 28, p. 665)

Public schools
Parks
Building lines, street openings, etc.
Sewage plant and sanitary sewer
Storm sewer
Street paving
Central fire station
Incinerator
Library
Institute of Fine Arts
Public auditorium
Hospital enlargements
Waterworks
Airport improvements

April 7, 1931
Bond Election held to vote for $300,000.00 bonds for establishing, owning and operating a municipal airport.  Ordinance 2291.  Passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 36, p. 366)
 
October 30, 1934
Bond Election held to vote for $3,000,000.00 bonds for Parks.  Ordinance 2671.  Passed (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 42, p. 438)

April 6, 1937
Bond Election held to vote for $2,350,000.00 bonds for Public Schools.  Ordinance 2858.  Passed. (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 46, p. 261)

April 5, 1938
Bond Election held to vote for two (2) capital improvement propositions, totaling 1,300,000.00. Ordinance 2948.  Both propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 48, p. 67)

Storm sewers
Enlargement of the airport

October 15, 1940
Bond Election held to vote for two (2) capital improvement propositions, totaling $750,000.00.  Ordinance 3153.  Both propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 52, p. 280)

Airport improvement
Airport improvement revenue bonds

June 28, 1941
Bond Election held to vote on two (2) capital improvement propositions, totaling $650,000.00.  Ordinance 3231.  Both propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 41-553)

Public market
Public schools

April 6, 1943

Bond Election held to vote to expend unexpended funds from December 15, 1927, bond election, totaling $52,387.65.  Ordinance 3406. Passed. (Canvass Report:  File Number 43-380)

December 28, 1943
Bond Election held to vote on five (5) capital improvement propositions, totaling $15,000,000.00. Ordinance 3473.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 43-1730)

Airports
Storm Sewers
Building lines, street openings, underpasses, overhead crossings
Waterworks and pump stations
Street openings

December 8, 1945
Bond Election held to vote on seventeen (17) capital improvement propositions, totaling $40,000,000.00. Ordinance 3722.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 45-2988)

Public schools
Public auditorium
Public market
Fire stations
Enlarge the public library
Storm sewer
Municipal airport improvements
Agricultural livestock building
Street openings, underpasses, overhead crossings
Street paving
Waterworks
Sanitary sewers
City hall construction
Parks
Street lights
Municipal garage
Remodel existing city hall

December 2, 1947
Bond Election held to vote on two (2) capital improvement propositions, totaling $11,000,000.00. Ordinance 4161.  All propositions passed (Canvass Report:  Minute book volume 69, p. 170)

Waterworks
Sanitary sewers

November 20, 1948
Bond Election held to vote on five (5) capital improvement propositions, totaling $22,400,000.00. Ordinance 4364.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 48-3918)
 
Street paving
Street widening and opening
Storm sewers
Sanitary sewers
Water purification plant, pumping stations, and water mains

June 20, 1950
Bond Election held to vote on six (6) capital improvement propositions, totaling $14,800,000.00. Ordinance 4789.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 50-2533)
 
Street opening and widening
Storm sewer construction
Municipal garage
Sanitary sewers and sewage disposal
Waterworks improvement, pumping facilities, purification plant, and distribution mains
Revenue bonds

January 29, 1952
Bond Election held to vote on seven (7) capital improvement propositions, totaling $19,185,000.00. Ordinance 5355.  All propositions failed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 52-420)

Improvements and paving
Street opening and widening
Storm sewers
Traffic signal system
Municipal garage and maintenance yards
Sanitary sewers and sewage disposal plant
Waterworks improvement, pumping facilities, purification plant, and distribution mains

May 1, 1952
Special Election held for a variety of issues including Charter Amendment establishing a Bond Limit, not to exceed $125,000,000.00.  Ordinance 5429.

Bond Election held in conjunction with the above Special Election to vote on ten (10) Capital Improvement Propositions, totaling $49,985,000.00.  Ordinance 5433.  All propositions passed. (Canvass Report:  File Number 52-1621)

Public street improvements and paving
Street widening and opening
Storm sewer construction
Traffic signal system
Municipal garage and maintenance yards
Sanitary sewers and disposal plant
Waterworks improvement, pumping facilities, purification plant, and distribution mains
Improvements to municipal airports and landing fields
Enlargement of the library and a new library building
Health administration building

January 27, 1953
Bond Election held to vote on the issuance of $12,500,000.00 bonds to enlarge and improve municipal airports and landing fields and public buildings used in connection therewith.  Ordinance 5663.  Passed. (Canvass Report:  File Number 53-202)
 
January 31, 1956
Bond Election held to vote on six (6) capital improvement propositions and a contract with the Sabine River Authority.  The bond issuance total is $41,000,000.00. Ordinance 6804.  All propositions passed. (Canvass Report:  File Number 56-516)

Permanent park improvements
Fire station construction
Storm Sewers and bridges
Permanent street improvements
Waterworks improvements including purification plants and distribution system
Extension and enlargement of the sanitary sewer system
Contract with the Sabine River Authority

December 2, 1958
Bond Election held to vote on seven (7) capital improvement propositions, totaling $51,800,000.00. Ordinance 7833.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report: File Number 58-5246)
 
Permanent street improvements
Storm sewers and bridges
Park improvements
Library improvements
Fire station construction
Extension and enlargement of the sanitary sewer system
Waterworks improvements including purification plants and distribution system

January 23, 1962
Bond Election held to vote on seven (7) capital improvement propositions, totaling $50,700,000.00. Ordinance 9092.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 62-336)
 
Street improvements
Storm sewers and bridges
Park improvements
Library improvements
Fire station construction
Extension and enlargement of the sanitary sewer system
Waterworks improvements including purification plants and distribution system

April 7, 1964
Bond Election held to vote on seven (7) capital improvement propositions, totaling $52,500,000.00. Ordinance 10232.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report: Minute book volume 150, p. 504-511)
 
Street improvements
Storm sewers and bridges
Park improvements
Central municipal facilities
Fire stations
Sanitary sewer system
Waterworks

December 21, 196
Bond Election held to vote on two (2) capital improvement propositions, totaling $6,000,000.00.  Also includes tax levies. Ordinance 11285.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report: File Number 65-6716)
 
Permanent airport improvements
Permanent public transit improvements

August 8, 1967
Bond Election held to vote on fourteen (14) capital improvement propositions, totaling $173,000,000.00.  Ordinance 11877.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report: File Number 67-3684)
 
Fire station improvements
Libraries
Public parks
Street improvements
Storm sewer system improvements
Combined Municipal Services Building (New City Hall)
Land acquisition for combined municipal services building (new city hall)
Improvements for city's Memorial Auditorium (convention center)
Fair Park improvements and enlargement
Facilities for the city'neighborhood development of people and property program
Street and alley improvements for the city'neighborhood development of people and property program
New regional airport construction and development (DFW Airport)
Waterworks improvement
Sanitary sewer system improvement

February 25, 1969
Dallas City Council passed resolution 69-884 endorsing the Dallas County Road Bond Program.

November 24, 1970
Resolution 70-4377 called for City Manager and City Attorney to provide instruments to call a special bond election for 11/24/70 to complete City Hall.  Resolution 70-4466 authorized ballot for an election with two propositions (no amounts given).

Complete new city hall including fire-police communications center and Civil Defense Center
Finance three buildings for Crossroads Community Center in South Dallas

Resolution 70-4468 - Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce supported the need for an election to complete City Hall.  (Motions, File Number 704650)

Motion from Mayor Pro-Tem McKinney indicating that $5,000,000.00 to $7,000,000.00 would not complete the City Hall project, and that bids be rejected
Councilman Allen offered a substitute motion that the bond election be held anyway
Motion 1 - passed
Motion 2 - failed

No evidence exists in the City Council Minutes that an election was held on 11/24/1970.

June 27, 1972
Bond Election held to vote for fourteen (14) capital improvement propositions, totaling $172,000,000.00.  Ordinance 13665.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report: File Number 72-2237)

Fire fighting facilities
Library facilities
Park facilities
Street construction and Improvement
Flood control and storm drainage
6A. Police facilities
6B. Public Works service centers
6C. Transportation terminal facilities
6D. City equipment storage, use, and service facilities
7A. Street and alley improvements in connection with the city's neighborhood development of people and property program
7B. Child care center in connection with the city'neighborhood development of people and property program
City Transit System Facilities
Waterworks Improvements and Extension
Sanitary Sewer Improvements

December 9, 1975
Bond Election held to vote on twelve (12) capital improvement propositions, totaling $149,494,000.00. Ordinance 15044.  All propositions passed. (Canvass Report:  File Number 75-3605)

Fire protection facilities
Library facilities
Expansion of the municipal produce market facilities
Drainage and flood protection facilities
Improvement of streets and related pedestrian and parking facilities
Traffic and transportation system improvements
Police and multiple service facilities
Animal Control Center
Solid waste disposal facilities
Park and recreation facilities
Extending waterworks system
Improving and extending sanitary sewer system

June 10, 1978
Bond Election was held to vote on seventeen (17) capital improvement propositions, totaling $285,173,000. Ordinance 15828.  Mixed Results as indicated below.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 78-1614)

Fire protection facilities - passed
Library facilities - passed
Park and recreation facilities - passed
Trinity River Greenbelt improvements, including construction for town Lake - failed
Public cultural facilities - failed
Street System constructions and improvements- passed
Downtown pedestrian way, truck terminals, and parking facilities - passed
Transit way for North Central Expressway travel corridor from central business district to Forest Lane and Coit Road - passed
Improvements to Fair Park Boulevard/transit way - passed
Dallas floodway levee – failed
Flood protection and drainage facilities – passed
Police and multiple service facilities – passed
Criminal justice facility - passed
Convention center expansion - failed
Municipal produce market improvement - passed
Solid waste disposal - passed
Waterworks system improvements - passed

November 6, 1979
Bond Election held to vote on seven (7) capital improvement propositions, totaling $54,622,000.00.  Ordinance 16342.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 79-3281)

Street and storm drainage facilities
North Central Expressway improvements
Pedestrian ways and truck terminals
Dallas Museum of Fine Arts facility and renovation of the existing at Fair Park Museum facilities
Concert hall construction
Majestic Theater renovation
Convention center expansion

August 3, 1982
Bond Election held to vote on eleven (11) capital improvement propositions totaling $247,070,000.00.  This election was the first in Dallas County to use the 'punch-card' voting equipment.  Ordinance 17448.  All propositions passed. (Canvass Report: File Number)

Fire protection facilities
Flood protection and storm drainage
Police and multiple service facilities
Arts district concert hall
Library facilities
Park and recreation improvements
Dallas Transit System facilities
Fair Park improvements
Dallas Zoo improvements
Farmers Market improvements
Street and thoroughfare improvements

November 5, 1985
Bond Election held to vote on 11 capital improvement propositions totaling $428,060,000.00.  Also included Proposition 911.   All propositions passed.  Action 85-2864.  Ordinance 18855.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 85-1135)

Fire protection facilities
Street and traffic control improvements
Fair Park improvements
Police and multiple services facilities
Arts district site acquisition
Solid waste disposal facilities
Flood protection and storm drainage
Zoo improvements
Park, recreation, and community facilities
Trinity Park development

June 25, 1988

Bond Election held for Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

November 7, 1989
Bond Election held for two (2) capital improvement propositions, totaling $60,700,000.00. Ordinance 20453.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 89-3637)

Street and thoroughfare
Central Expressway construction and outfall drainage

May 6, 1995
Bond Election held to vote on eight (8) capital improvement propositions, totaling $174,700,000.00. Action 95-0881.  Ordinance 22349.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 95-1734)

Street and thoroughfare
Police headquarters
Storm drainage improvements
Major park, recreational and community facilities
Neighborhood park, playground and recreational facilities
City facilities repair and improvements
Fire protection facilities

White Rock Lake improvements

May 2, 1998
Bond Election held to vote on eleven (11) capital improvement propositions, totaling $543,500,000.00. Action 98-0741.  Ordinance 23455.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 98-1355)

Street and thoroughfare
Park, playground, recreation, and community facilities
Police headquarters facility
Fire protection facilities
Library facilities
Flood protection and storm drainage improvements
Cultural arts facilities acquisition and improvement
City facilities repair and improvements
Furtherance of the city's economic development neighborhood revitalization and business expansion programs
Animal control facilities
Trinity River Corridor Project bonds, including floodways, levees, waterways, open space, recreational facilities, Trinity Parkway, and related street improvements

May 3, 2003
Bond Election held to vote on seventeen (17) capital improvement propositions, totaling $579,290,000. Action 03-0647. Ordinance 25186.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 03-1305)

Street and transportation Improvements
Park, playground, recreation, and community facilities
Flood protection and storm drainage facilities
Library facilities
Cultural arts facilities planning and improvement
City facilities repair and improvements
Animal control facilities
Land acquisition for the development of low and moderate income homes
Flood protection and storm drainage improvements (McCommas Bluff Landfill) street projects
Major and citywide park and recreation facilities
Cultural arts facilities
Street, utility, and other infrastructure improvements in southern area of the city
Fire protection facilities
Farmers market improvements
Police headquarters facility • Homeless assistance facilities

November 8, 2005
Bond Election held to vote on the issuance of $23,800,000 general obligation bonds for homeless assistance facilities, including housing facilities for the homeless.  The proposition passed.  Action 05-2527; Ordinance 26094.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 05-3336)
 
Assistance and housing facilities for the homeless

November 6, 2012
Bond Election held to vote on three (3) general obligation bonds propositions, totaling $642 million.  All propositions passed.  Action 12-2057; Ordinance 28740.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 12-2800)

Street and transportation
Flood protection and storm drainage improvements
Economic development program

November 7, 2015
Bond Election held to vote on ten (10) general obligation bonds propositions, totaling $1.23 billion.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 17-1810)

Street and transportation
Park and recreation facilities
Fair Park improvements
Flood protection and storm drainage improvements
Library facilities 
Public safety facilities
Service and administrative facilities
Economic development program
Permanent, supportive, and transitional housing facilities for the homeless

November 7, 2017
Bond Election held to vote on ten (10) general obligation bonds propositions, totaling $1.23 billion.  All propositions passed.  (Canvass Report:  File Number 17-1810)

Street and transportation
Park and recreation facilities
Fair Park improvements
Flood protection and storm drainage improvements
Library facilities 
Public safety facilities
Service and administrative facilities
Economic development program
Permanent, supportive, and transitional housing facilities for the homeless