Leander Poised For Its Biggest Ever Bond Election

LEANDER, TX -- Municipality officials are poised for the largest bond election in its history -- a $70.3 million referendum aimed at financing parks and roads improvements and construction of a senior center and recreation center.

All told, the May 7 election will call for a bond referendum totaling $70,327,644, the HIll Country News reports. Projects include improvements to existing roads and construction of a senior center on city-owned property. City officials also want to build a rec center that might be a YMCA.

Mayor Chris Fielder stressed tax rates won't go up with all the improvements, which will be paid for with bond proceeds only. The current tax rate is current rate of $0.63292 per $100,000 valuation.

“That was one of our council criteria moving forward,” Fielder told the newspaper.

Fielder added a tax rate increase wouldn't be necessary given the city's brisk growth (and subsequently incresing tax base). The city is currently growing at a rate of 10 percent each year, with nearly 1,200 new homes built annually.

The bond package would be split into four distinct proposistions:

The largest chunk is for parks and park improvements at $26,274,000, with the master plan build-out for Lakewood Community Park is included in this portion. If approved, Lakewood Community Park would get an amphitheater, a playscape, a skate park, a splash pad, an off-leash dog park and basketball and volleyball courts. Veterans Park also would benefit from proceeds, with plans for a labyrinth garden, new benches, a military wall of honor and

landscaping work.

The second-largest proposition is for transportation projects totaling $22,468,244. One project entails the extension of Metro Drive from its location at the Leander Park & Ride Rail Station to Mel Mathis Boulevard. Construction would start this July and conclude September of 2017, assuming voters approve the bond.

Also included in this portion are improvements to Raider Way and East Woodview Drive. Both roads would be widened, with curbs, gutters, street lighting, sewers, water-quality facilities and sidewalks included among the enhancements. Adjustments would also be made to the traffic signal at Crystal Falls Parkway and Raider Way.

An $18,000,000 proposition calls for creation of a 50,000-square-foot recreation center. YMCA officials are currently conducting a feasibility study to determine if one of their centers would be viable in Leander.

A previous study presented in late January to the bond committee by Jeff Anderson, CEO of YMCA of Greater Williamson County, showed broad community support from residents, the HIll Country News reported. Anderson said 12.7 percent of households expressed an interest in a Leander YMCA facility, compared with the national average, 4.5 percent asked if they would like to see such a rec center where they live.

The last bond package of $4,185,400 calls for an 18,500 square-foot senior center and Head Start Center for children. The center would be built on city-owned land next to the public works property on Municipal Drive, and would be a partnership among the city, Williamson-Burnet County Opportunities and a private investor.

The senior center currently located on Bagdad Road would relocate to this new property.

If it passes, the bond package would dwarf the city's previous highest referendum. Leander voters previously approved a $36.6 million election in 2006, which included $26.9 million for roads and public safety.