By Cecilia Chan | Gilbert Sun News
It’s going to be a bumpy ride to Election Day for a proposed $515-million bond to pay for projects such as road repairs, the Ocotillo Bridge and trail crossings in Gilbert as opposition arises ahead of early voting.
It’s an all-mail election Nov. 2 for Gilbert with eligible voters receiving a ballot beginning Oct. 6. Gilbert’s election cost was anticipated to be just below $185,000.
“This bond seems like a slush fund of we’ll just find some way to spend it if we can get it,” said Councilman Laurin Hendrix at last week’s Council meeting. “We just ask for as much money as we can get and then dream up some way to spend it because the best thing is to have control of taxpayers’ money so we can spend it how we please.”
In the last two decades, Gilbert voters have approved four different transportation-related bonds totaling $363 million – all spent. The last transportation bond approved was in 2007 for $174 million.
Hendrix’s comment on the upcoming bond came as he questioned a state allotment of $7.9 million to Gilbert to help pay for the construction of Ocotillo Bridge, which will connect two major arterial roads near the regional park.
