Art Reyna
Guest Columnist

Tuesday is Election Day in Leon Valley, along with the rest of Texas. Leon Valley voters have a chance to decide if the city should have an additional $400,000 per year for the next four years to help improve Leon Valley streets.

Take the time to cast a vote in this important election. Through the first four days of early voting, only 85 people had voted, which is very low number for our city. Leon Valley voters typically cast about 600 votes in an election with as many votes coming from early voting as Election Day.

This is your chance to have direct input into how our city is run and while City Council members are elected to lead the city, your taking the time to vote will provide guidance in our setting the future course of our city.

Cast your ballot next Tuesday at Leon Valley City Hall between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Citizens Neighborhood Progress Committee

After careful evaluation of the suggestions by Leon Valley residents, in August the CNPC recommended that the City Council call an election for Nov. 6 to ask Leon Valley residents to vote for or against a one-fourth of a cent Street Maintenance Sales Tax, which will be dedicated to street maintenance and repair.

On the ballot to adopt the additional tax, voters have the choice of voting for or against the following proposition: The adoption of a local sales and use tax in Leon Valley at the rate of one-fourth of one percent to provide revenue for maintenance and repair of municipal streets. The tax will expire in four years unless reauthorized by the voters, as per the Texas Tax Code, Section 327.007

It is estimated that non-Leon Valley residents pay over 75 percent of the sales taxes collected in Leon Valley. If that estimate is correct, then non-residents would contribute approximately $1,207,400 of the total street maintenance tax collected during the four-year period the tax would be in effect.

Some of the projects that could be eligible are:

- $687,050 for road resurfacing and protection

- $511,300 for street, curb, sidewalk and driveway apron reconstruction

- $330,000 for curb, sidewalk and street drainage repair

The city’s Public Works Department will evaluate and rank the various possible projects so that the city will be able to maximize the use of any funds received. The ranking process is the same as the one used now.

Questions about the election or the ballot should be directed to the City Secretary at 684-1391, extension 216. Art Reyna is the Place 2 councilman in Leon Valley.

Contact him by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 681-4432.