WilCo Chamber Heads Voice Support For $477M Bond Proposal

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Seven area chambers of commerce teamed up on Tuesday to voice support for a proposed $477 million bond package to improve county roads and parks.

Voters will now weigh in on the matter Nov. 5, when a general election is scheduled. The bonds will be presented as two separate items for their consideration — Proposition A seeking $412 million for road infrastructure needs and another referendum valued at $35 million for parks.

"Williamson County is growing and these propositions identify key transportation projects that will improve our infrastructure and move our community along, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Johnson said. In offering support of the measures, he gathered with his counterparts from other WilCo cities outside the Williamson County Courthouse in Georgetown, Texas, on Tuesday morning.

Round Rock Chamber President and CEO Jason Ball echoed Johnson's sentiments: “The Round Rock Chamber is pleased to support both propositions in the Williamson County Bond Election based on their positive impact to our local economy. Ensuring that our roads and parks keep up with growth is critical to our economic generation efforts.”

His Leander counterpart also voiced support for the issuance of county debt to finance needed improvements: “The Leander Chamber of Commerce is proud to support both propositions in the Williamson County bond election," Leander Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bridget Brandt said. "We believe that this bond proposal will help ensure that Williamson County continues to thrive.”

Also in attendance to add their voices of support for the bonds measure were officials with the Cedar Park, Liberty Hill, Pflugerville and Taylor chambers of commerce. Other speakers included David Hays, board chair of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce, and Taylor Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tia Rae Stone.

Given the tactics of infrastructure improvement and response to population growth inherent to the proposals — key chamber of commerce tenets in promoting municipal quality of life issues — the other chamber heads followed in lockstep by expressing support of the proposed issuance of public debt to finance work:

• Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tony Moline: “The Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce supports these bonds because we believe that transportation plays a key role in the decision-making process for businesses with regards to ease of access and flow of goods in and out of the community. The continuous improvement of transportation will impact quality employment opportunities in the future.”
• Liberty Hill Chamber President Kim Sanders: “The Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce is pleased to support both propositions in the Williamson County Bond Election. With the growing population in Williamson County, we need to be proactive ensuring that our roads and parks are adequate for the extensive growth we are experiencing.”

The bond propositions on the Nov. 5 ballot are:

• Proposition A to authorize the county to issue and sell bonds not to exceed $412 million for the purpose of constructing, improving, extending, expanding, upgrading and/or developing roads and other transportation-related improvements.
• Proposition B to authorize the county to issue and sell bonds not to exceed $35 million for the purpose of constructing, improving, renovating, acquiring land, buildings and facilities for park and recreational purposes including, but not limited to, parkland, open space/preserve land, trail acquisition, pedestrian and bike trail improvements.

Williamson County officials have assured passage of the bond issues will not result in an increase in the county’s debt service tax rate.

Early voting on the matter started on Monday, Oct. 21. Polling places will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, through Wednesday, Oct. 30. There is no voting on Sunday. Early voting then continues Thursday, Oct. 31, and Friday, Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

From earlier:

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Representative from seven area chambers of commerce — including ones in Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock —are staging a press conference on Tuesday, likely to voice support of a $477 million bond referendum in November.

The Oct. 22 press conference is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Williamson County Courthouse in Georgetown, Texas, outside in front of the courthouse on the west side facing Austin Avenue. Executive leadership, board members, and chamber members from seven area chambers will be on hand to comment on the Williamson County election to be held November 5, 2019 including:

• Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce.
• Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.
• Leander Chamber of Commerce.
• Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce.
• Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce.
• Round Rock Chamber.
• Taylor Chamber of Commerce.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Jason Ball, President and CEO, Round Rock Chamber.
• David Hays, Board Chair, Round Rock Chamber.
• Tony Moline, President and CEO, Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce.
• Tia Rae Stone, President and CEO, Taylor Chamber of Commerce.

A Nov. 5 general election has been scheduled for voters to weigh in on a $477 million in collective bond packages to raise cash for roads and parks projects. The propositions on the ballot are:

• Proposition A to authorize the county to issue and sell bonds not to exceed $412 million for the purpose of constructing, improving, extending, expanding, upgrading and/or developing roads and other transportation-related improvements.
• Proposition B to authorize the county to issue and sell bonds not to exceed $35 million for the purpose of constructing, improving, renovating, acquiring land, buildings and facilities for park and recreational purposes including, but not limited to, parkland, open space/preserve land, trail acquisition, pedestrian and bike trail improvements.

Related stories:

• Early Voting Scheduled For WilCo $447M Bond Issue
• WilCo Open House To Educate Voters On $477M Bond Proposal

Early voting on the matter started on Monday, Oct. 21. Polling places will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, through Wednesday, Oct. 30. There is no voting on Sunday. Early voting then continues Thursday, Oct. 31, and Friday, Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.