Residents in Mid- and South County decided the fate of school and water control district bonds, a city council race, tax reallocation to fix roads and numerous other ballot questions when voting concluded Tuesday (Nov. 5).

Groves City Council

In Groves, the Ward 1 race was won by Chris Borne, who topped Cindy Kreutzer.

Borne was appointed to the seat in late November 2018 to fill the remainder of the term of former councilman Cross Coburn.

The Ward 3 race pitted incumbent and longtime councilman Sidney Badon against newcomer Barbara Edington. Following results released Tuesday, Badon topped Edington.

Port Neches

Voters in Port Neches voted to reduce the economic development corporation’s sales tax from one-half of 1% to one-quarter of 1% and reallocating the other one-quarter to provide revenue for maintenance and repair of city streets.

Port Neches Economic Development Corporation, which was formed in 2000, receives one half of 1 percent of sales tax. As a result the PNEDC collects about $450,000 per year that goes to a variety of economic development incentives and projects.

With the approval of the Proposition, the funding should now provide an additional $200,000 to $250,000 beyond what the city currently budgets for the street repair and maintenance.

Proceeds from sales tax will not be collected until March and the first rebate from that won’t be received by the city until June 2020.

Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District No. 10

The folks in Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District No. 10 — the area between Twin City Highway and U.S. 69 and between the cities of Nederland and Beaumont including Central Gardens and rural areas — decided in favor of a tax hike.

WCID voters approved an 8-cent-per-$100 valuation tax projected to bring approximately $226,000 annually. The current rate is 3 cents per $100 valuation.

The take hike will fund maintenance and purchases for the volunteer fire department for items such as bunker gear, fire hose and nozzles, rescue truck and more.

Port Neches-Groves Independent School District

Voters in Port Neches-Groves ISD approved a $130 million bond that will reduce the number of elementary schools from seven to four by building new elementary schools in each city, two in Groves and two in Port Neches. Each town would have one PreK-2 campus and one 3-5 campus.

Sabine Pass Independent School District

Sabine Pass voters approved a $150 million bond for construction, acquisition, renovation and equipment of school buildings in the district. This includes the purchase of school buses, software and technology, safety and security equipment and such other improvements in the district relating to facilities, for the purchase of real and personal property.

Jefferson County Special Election

Voters in Jefferson County are set to decide whether to legalize pari-mutuel wagering on horse races and legalize pari-mutuel wagering on simulcast races in the Jefferson County.

Pari-mutuel horse racing is on-track betting where you are physically on the location when bets are open. Simulcast is off-track betting where you can bet on races in other areas that are broadcast or not broadcast.

A location for the races and wagering has not been chosen at this time.