A Moment for Laredo

By Joe Neeb, City Manager, City of Laredo

I was walking out of a neighborhood meeting the other evening when a woman stopped me in the parking lot. She held her purse close, clearly off work, and asked quietly:

“Mr. Neeb… is this bond necessary? I’ve lived here all my life and never seen Laredo do something like this.”

It wasn’t a confrontational question. It was honest. And it stuck with me.

Because she’s right — this moment is different.

Laredo has always been a city that stretches every dollar. We’ve made do with less, leaned on each other, and rarely asked for more than we needed. That’s part of our character. It’s why I believe so deeply in this community. But that strength — that frugality — has brought us to a crossroads.

The bond referendum on the May 3, 2025 ballot asks voters whether to support a proposed investment in long-deferred needs across public safety, public health, transportation infrastructure, and affordable housing. These aren’t just projects. They’re efforts designed to address foundational issues that affect our city’s daily services and long-term future.

For two decades, the city has reduced its property tax rate. It has been over 30 years since Laredo last held a bond election.

A Deliberate, Inclusive Process

These proposals weren’t chosen overnight. Over several months, the City Council held public workshops, reviewed data-driven assessments, and engaged with stakeholders from every district. Every project in the bond package was selected based on clearly identified needs — not political preferences.

Public Safety: Many of our busiest fire and police stations are decades old and no longer suited for current call volumes, equipment, or response standards.
Public Health: Health department services are currently spread across multiple aging facilities. Consolidating into one modern facility would improve access, efficiency, and emergency readiness.
Streets: The proposal includes reconstruction of over 100 lane miles of severely deteriorated roads, prioritized using a citywide pavement condition assessment.
Affordable Housing: Renovating the Hamilton building would preserve assisted living units for Laredo’s aging population and essential workers — in the heart of downtown.

What It Means for Residents

If approved, the bond would result in a phased increase to the property tax rate. For a homeowner with a $100,000 home, the estimated impact would be approximately $8.33 per month, capped at $0.10 per $100 of property value.

Residents aged 65 and older, or with a qualifying disability exemption, would not see a City tax increase under the proposed bond.

The City has worked to balance urgent needs with long-term affordability and responsible financial planning.

Let’s Clear the Air

Several inaccurate claims have circulated recently. Here are the facts:

The total bond proposal is $417 million, not $480 million.
None of the bond funds can be used for salaries or operational expenses. Bond funding is legally restricted to capital improvements only.
Water system improvements are not included in this bond. They are funded separately through utility-backed financing.

The Cost of Waiting

Some may wonder if these projects can wait. It’s important to note that construction costs continue to rise, and delays could result in significantly higher expenses in the future. The city may also lose access to state and federal grant opportunities if local matching funds aren’t secured.

Public infrastructure continues to age. The longer we delay major improvements, the harder and more expensive they become to address.

A Democratic Decision

This election is not about forcing a decision. It’s about offering one. The City Council placed these bond propositions on the ballot to give you — the residents of Laredo — the opportunity to decide whether to move forward with some, all, or none of the proposals.

That’s how local democracy works.

Early Voting and Election Day Information

Early Voting: Early voting runs from Tuesday, April 22 through Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Main Early Voting Site:

Billy Hall, Jr. Administrative Building, 1110 Washington St.

Additional Early Voting Locations:

Laredo Specialty Hospital, 2005 E. Bustamante St.
Laredo Fire Dept. Administrative Center, 616 E. Del Mar Blvd.
City Hall Annex Building, 1102 Bob Bullock Loop
Doctors Hospital, 10700 McPherson Rd.
Barbara Fasken Recreation Center, 15201 Cerralvo Dr.
Cigarroa Recreation Center, 2201 Zacatecas St.
Marcos Aranda Recreation & Boxing Gym, 4418 Old Santa Maria Rd.
El Eden Recreation Center, 4735 Loma Vista Dr.

For detailed hours of operation, to find your Election Day polling location, and additional information, please visit www.laredobond2025.com.

Election Day: Election Day is Saturday, May 3, 2025.

A Final Thought

That woman in the parking lot didn’t need a political answer. She wanted to know if this was worth it — for her family, her street, her future.

I shared what I’ve shared with many: this bond is about more than infrastructure — it’s about the kind of Laredo we’re preparing for the generations who come after us.

There will always be voices that try to divide or distract us. But Laredo deserves better — and our community is strong enough to make decisions based on facts, not fear.

No matter how you vote, thank you for participating in this important decision for the future of our city.