Dismal early vote turnout in McAllen bond election precedes Saturday’s election

McALLEN — Voters here will head to the polls Saturday for the city’s two-proposition, $25 million bond election.

After only 823 early votes were cast in person and 238 by mail, according to the city secretary’s office, McAllen voters will have two propositions to approve or deny. The first is $22 million toward drainage improvements and the second is $3 million for traffic control improvements.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Polling locations are Gonzalez Elementary, Lark Community Center, Lincoln Middle School, Palm View Community Center, McAllen High School and Fields Elementary School.

If the drainage proposition passes, the $22 million will go toward 23 projects throughout McAllen as part of the city’s $46 million master plan to improve drainage.

The second proposition, if it passes, would bring $3 million for traffic control improvements, which would include traffic signal synchronization, hardware, fiber and new equipment, the city said.

The drainage proposition would, on average, cost each McAllen taxpayer about $21 per year, the city said, while the traffic proposition would cost approximately $3 per year.

City officials held more than five public town halls across the city in the weeks leading up to the election, in addition to meeting with private groups that had requested information sessions on the propositions.