New
Next Community Meeting! Oct. 29 - West Shreveport Alliance at Bill Cockrell - 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

A Message from Mayor Perkins

The 2019 Bond Proposal addresses Shreveport's critical needs. It includes funds for public safety, infrastructure, water and sewage, as well as parks and public buildings.

The new central police station and the implementation of substations in each police district will make Shreveport safer by making law enforcement more visible. The new fire stations and vehicle replacements included in this bond will increase emergency response times and decrease maintenance costs.

Shreveport's traffic lights are antiquated and unintuitive; our roads are littered with potholes. This bond includes projects that improve the condition of our roadways and better facilitate traffic.

Only 100 of the 800 bus stops in Shreveport are sheltered, leaving public transit riders exposed to extreme weather. The bond includes funds to bring the number of sheltered stops up to nearly 50 percent.

Recreational centers and parks are social hubs for the communities they serve. Growing up in a neighborhood that suffered neglect, I understand the need for the quality of life and infrastructure projects in this bond proposal.

Shreveport's water infrastructure and treatment facility desperately need to be repaired and upgraded. The water projects in this proposal will improve water pressure and the quality of service.

In partnership with the Citizens' Bond Committee and the Shreveport City Council, I believe my administration has crafted an outstanding bond package for the citizens of Shreveport. This process began with the people, and on November 16th, it will conclude with the people's decision.



Frequently Asked Questions

The most commonly asked questions when it comes to general obligation bonds are below.
What additional annual costs are added to the operating budget as a result of the bond expenditures proposed?

There are no additional annual costs added to the operating budget as a result of bond expenditures.

What is Shreveport's current bond rating?

Shreveport's General Obligation Credit Ratings:

S&P: A as of December, 2017

Moody’s: A3 as of December, 2017

Is $186 million enough to complete all the named projects and how long will it take to complete all these projects?

Yes. The completion date depends on the timing of bond's sale, but these projects could be completed over the next few years.

How many additional City employees will be needed for implementing these projects?

No additional city employees will be needed to as a result of the bond.

Are any other cost categories included in the expenses for the proposed bond money?

There are only three proposition categories, and they are as follows:

  • Proposition 1- Water & Sewerage $32,000,000
  • Proposition 2- Police, Fire, SPAR $76,140,000
  • Proposition 3- Streets & Drainage $77,860,000
What are the benefits of these projects?

These facility upgrades will save the City utility costs, operational costs, and bring facilities into current code and life safety compliance. Replacing public safety facilities and apparatuses increases services and improves efficiencies by decreasing response times and reducing maintenance costs. The SPD substations will also make the police more visible, which serves as a crime deterrent. The investment in our recreational facilities and playground equipment will enhance quality of life in these communities.

What would be the City's priority order for the projects listed?

Top priorities include the Police Substations to get Patrol to their new facilities and vacate a portion of the police facility. The vacated portion of the building could be demolished and the new building constructed. A Fire Department priority would be to replace front-line response vehicles. The administration will also recommend priority to roadway repairs and repairs to the Convention Center roof.

What is the next phase of cost breakdowns for the named projects?

The next step would be program analysis, followed by schematic design, which identifies the footprint for the project and solidifies the project's construction budget—all of which is driven by the funding allocated for this project. The next step is design development.

How much is allocated for cost and interest paid for the bond issue?

The bonds will be issued in phases over the next few years. Each tranche, or portion, of bonds will require council approval. Interest cost has been approximated around 3%, depending on the market at the time of sale.

How much is allocated to Economic Growth?

The Economic Development Fund project is not included in the proposal. The workload necessary for the projects will provide jobs available during the span of years the bonds are issued and funds spent for contractors. The bonds address public safety and quality of life.

How much is allocated to Parks and Recreation Projects?

$16,865,000

How much is allocated to Drainage Projects other than for the consent decree?

$16,000,000

How much is allocated to Streets Infrastructure Projects?

$60,360,000

How much is allocated to Public Safety (police and fire protection)?

$57,900,000

How much of the bond issue is allocated to water/sewer consent decree projects?

$0.

Will this proposal increase my taxes or any other city expenses?

No. If approved, the bond issue proposal will not increase taxes. The proposal will provide relief to the city budget for maintenance, and will not cost additional expenses.

What is the justification and pay-back for the full bond issue proposal?

Municipal bonds are an essential source of funding that municipalities routinely use to finance capital improvements. The pay-back source continues to be from ad valorem collections.

What about the 2011 bond projects?

83 out 96 projects are currently complete (86% complete - 14% in progress).

90 projects are expected to be completed by years end (94% complete by the end of 2019).

Can the City spend bond money on anything they want?

Bond money can only be spent on capital improvement projects that have a useful lifespan approximating the bond's maturity date.

How do I stay involved?

Sign up for alerts to stay in the know and attend upcoming meetings where the administration answers your questions directly.

How were the projects decided on?

Mayor Perkins and the Council chose two citizens from their districts. After reviewing all of the City directors' greatest needs, the Citizen Committee presented recommendations to Mayor Perkins and the Council. The City Council then passed the bond proposal by majority vote, recommending it to be sent on to the voters in November.

Why do we need a bond?

Bond monies go towards capital projects that cannot be funded by the operating budgets in the General Fund.

What is a millage?

Short for "Millage Rate", these are tax rates used to calculate property taxes. The rate represents the amount per every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Assigned rates are multiplied by the total taxable value of the property in order to arrive at the property taxes.

The 2019 Bond continues on 6 of the 6.2 mills from the expiring '96 and '99 bonds.