A $987 million Alamo Colleges District bond was approved by voters on Saturday night.
Nearly 70% of Bexar County voters chose to approve Proposition A, which would fund a massive expansion of the community college district.
“This is a transformative moment not just for the Alamo College District but for the future of Bexar County and our region,” Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Mike Flores said in a statement. “The Alamo Colleges are grateful for the trust voters have placed in us. Their support for this bond is an investment in our students, stronger families and a more prosperous future for Bexar County.”
Passage of Prop A – the largest approved bond in ACD history – will allow the district to invest $537 million for infrastructure support of new programs and expanded facilities.
The district will also invest $247 million for infrastructure and technology improvements to modernize learning environments.
ACD will also allocate $205 million for high-demand sectors, such as healthcare, engineering, cybersecurity, information technology and emerging technologies.
In addition, ACD will be able to expand into locations at Brooks City Base, Port San Antonio, the South Texas Medical Center and a new North Central location.
Alamo Colleges District had garnered strong support from local business and workforce development leaders. Despite the support of many business leaders, the Bexar GOP opposed the bond.
GOP Chairwoman Kris Coons previously told the San Antonio Report that there is concern about the city and county’s current debt, which is nearly $20 billion. She also cited the some $5 billion allocated for Project Marvel. The $987 million bond, Coons said, would result in one of the nation’s highest debt-to-per capita ratios.
Other planned improvements:
- Northeast Lakeview College will receive $95 million toward a science, engineering and technology building and an expansion of the school’s career and technical program.
- San Antonio College will secure $120 million toward an architecture, drafting and engineering program and to establish a School of Nursing and Health Professions in the city’s Medical Center.
- Northwest Vista College is set to receive $130 million to expand its current campus and build a School of Emerging Technologies at Port San Antonio.
- St. Philip’s College on the city’s East Side will receive $115 million for a Center of Automotive Technology on its campus and a new Center of Construction Technology at an undetermined location.
- Palo Alto College will secure $95 million for an automotive and heavy machinery program and a Center of Applied Technology at Brooks.
Andrea Drusch and Xochilt Garcia contributed to this report.
