San Marcos voters OK $32M in bonds,

San Marcos residents have passed a $31.7 million bond package — the first in more than a decade — for public safety improvements and a library expansion, according to final unofficial returns from Saturday’s election.

The $17.2 million bond for public safety improvements passed with 76 percent of the vote, while the $14.5 million library bond passed with 77 percent of the vote.

Police Chief Chase Stapp thanked voters in a tweet Saturday night.

“Thank you San Marcos voters for your support,” Stapp wrote. “We will continue to do our absolute best to provide the best service possible.”

The San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce also weighed in on Twitter, calling the results “Good news for (San Marcos).”

With the passage of the bond, the city’s tax rate will increase by 8.37 cents per $100 of valuation, adding about $125 to the tax bill for the average $150,000 San Marcos home.

City officials have said the improvements the bonds support are necessary to keep up with the needs of a city that consistently ranks among the fastest-growing in the nation.

The last time the city held a bond election was in 2005 for transportation projects.

The public safety portion will fund renovations of the city’s 23-year-old Police Department building for $5.5 million and Fire Station No. 2 for $5.2 million, as well as the construction of a new fire station for $4.5 million and fire training field for $2 million.

The renovations to the police headquarters would also include the addition of security and perimeter fencing; parking lot improvements; replacement of HVAC equipment; creation of a SWAT storage facility; and an expansion to the 911 center.

The rest of the bond package will fund a 29,000-square-foot expansion to the San Marcos Public Library.

All election results are unofficial until they are canvassed.