Arlington residents will go to the polls starting this week with early voting to consider a $236 million bond package that focuses on streets, parks, fire facilities and libraries.

Early voting for the Nov. 4, 2014 general election will run through Oct. 31, 2014 and will be held: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 20-24, 2014; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Oct. 25, 2014; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 26, 2014 and 7 a.m. to 7 pm., Oct. 27-Oct. 31, 2014. A list of early voting locations for Arlington residents can be found here.

The City Council unanimously agreed this summer to put the proposed projects before voters, stressing that they be paid for without increasing taxes. The projects will be accommodated with the current tax rate of 64.8 cents per $100 property valuation.

A 19-member Citizens' Bond Committee made up of residents and business leaders conducted meetings, tours and document reviews and held public forums to assess the capital needs of the City of Arlington. Committee members met weekly throughout April and May and reviewed data and feedback ranging from street renovations to fire facility improvements.

The group provided a recommended list of projects and anticipated capital investment to City leaders. After the group's recommendations were endorsed by the Planning and Zoning Commission, the City Council considered the list during several meetings in June before voting on the package that would be presented to voters this fall.

Many of the proposed projects would renovate, rebuild and update existing facilities throughout the City. Proposed new projects include a recreation/aquatic center in southeast Arlington, recreation/aquatic center and library in east Arlington and an off-leash dog park in west Arlington.

The bond package is divided into four propositions:

Proposition 1-Public Works & Transportation: $160,130,000

• $40 Million toward the reconstruction of residential streets throughout the City
• Improvements to sidewalks, gutters and underground drainage in targeted areas
• Reconstruction of several major roadways throughout the City
• Realign New York/Eden intersection; add connection north of Webb Lynn Road
• Annual contract for testing of materials and methods during construction
• Add Texas U-turn for NB Bowen to SB Bowen at I-20
• Annual contract to relocate/repair irrigation in conflict with project construction

Proposition 2-Parks & Recreation: $60,000,000

• Construction of new recreation center facility in southeast Arlington
• Rebuild Hugh Smith Recreation Center and integrate with new East Library
• Install lighted soccer fields, concessions, restrooms and parking lots at Harold Patterson Sports Center
• Renovations at several City of Arlington parks
• Complete priority renovations identified in the Ditto Golf Course Renovation Plan
• Acquisition of park land in highest priority service gap areas

Proposition 3-Fire Department: $9,780,000

• Rebuild of Station 1 downtown
• Fire Training Center remodel

Proposition 4-Libraries: $6,090,000

• Woodland West remodel
• Library portion of Hugh Smith Recreation Center/East Library

For a more detailed list of projects by proposition visit the 2014 Bond Election page.The amounts identified for each project are estimated amounts and the City of Arlington may reallocate the amounts among the various projects listed or substitute other projects of a similar nature in accordance with the respective bond proposition.