WilCo Sets Election For Voters To Decide On $447M Bond Issue

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — The Williamson County Commissioners Court’s on Tuesday approved calling an election for two propositions in the November general election.

The first proposition on the Nov. 5 ballot calls for voters to decide whether or not to authorize the issuance of bonds not to exceed $412 million for roads. The second referendum calls for issuing bonds not to exceed $35 million for parks and recreation. Williamson County estimates that passage of the two bond propositions will not result in an increase in the county’s debt service tax rate of $.1675 per $100 of valuation, officials said in a late Tuesday advisory.

“Williamson County is the fifth fastest growing county in the State of Texas," County Judge Bill Gravell explained. "Through our long-range transportation plan, we have a path set to address that growth. Transportation safety and mobility, whether through roads or trails, is important to maintaining the outstanding quality of life we enjoy in Williamson County.”

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) projects that Williamson County’s population will reach just under a million people by 2030, city officials noted. In addition, the Homebuilders Association of Central Texas’ 2019 second quarter report found Williamson County was leading the tri-county area in new home starts with 6,930 residential units. Williamson County also is home to the Sonterra subdivision which has the highest number of annual closings among all subdivisions in Travis, Hays and Williamson counties, officials added.

On March 5, the commissioners court appointed a Citizens Bond Committee that met six times from March through June to evaluate whether or not the county should consider bond elections for roads and parks. In the end, the committee unanimously approved recommending calling the election and suggested road projects totaling more than $573 million and parks projects totaling just over $67.5 million, county officials said.

Williamson County voters have previously approved the sale of bonds for roads and parks in 2000, 2006, and 2013. In those elections, county voters passed bond packages for roads that constructed a total of 165 projects adding 301 new capacity lane miles and completed nearly 551 lane miles. The park bonds secured 3,559.5 acres of parks and preserves, 37 miles of trails, and expanded facilities at the Expo Center and at county parks, officials said.

Information on the election is available on the county’s website at www.wilco.org/bondelection.