Monday, March 18, 2024

Special Elections for City, Carroll ISD Voters Scheduled May 6

On May 6, Southlake voters will be able to vote on two ballot measures affecting Carroll Independent School District.

Although the city and school have separate ballots, voters who reside in both will help decide the future of the 2017 School Bond Proposition and the 1/8 sales tax that funds crime control and prevention programs, which includes funding for the School Resource Officer (SRO) program.

Information on the school bond election can be found at CarrollBudget.com. Only CISD residents may vote in the school bond election. Because the boundaries of the city do not completely align with the boundaries for the school district, there are CISD residents who live in west Grapevine, Westlake, Colleyville and Keller who can vote in the school bond election, but not in the City of Southlake crime tax election. If you are uncertain which city or school district election in which you are eligible to vote, contact the Tarrant County Elections office.

The Southlake Crime Control and Prevention District has been in place since 1997. During the past 20 years, the sales tax has funded the construction of the City’s three public safety facilities and the purchase of necessary equipment such as radio upgrades, body and dash cameras, SWAT equipment, security cameras, rifles, technology upgrades and Town Square security. Since 2013, the crime tax funds have paid for uniformed, trained officers at every Carroll ISD campus. These School Resource Officers are not CISD employees, but rather work for the City of Southlake.

The city ballot asks voters whether they support or oppose continuation of the 1/8 sales tax that is already in place. It does not create a new sales tax. All voters are required to present an approved form of identification in order to vote in any Texas election. Election Day takes place Saturday, May 6. Southlake voters must go to their county precinct polling location on election day. For many City of Southlake residents who also reside in Carroll ISD, that site is the Carroll Senior High School art building.

Early voting, however, is April 24 through May 2 at any Tarrant County early voting site, which includes the third floor of Southlake Town Hall in Southlake Town Square.

As a side note, CISD Trustees all ran unopposed, as did the city candidates, so the elections for School Board Trustee and City Council have been canceled.

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