WilCo Election Results 2019: $447M In Bonds Approved By Voters

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — With 100 percent of precincts reporting, voting returns tabulated by early Wednesday showed voters supported a pair of proposals on Tuesday's ballot for the issuance of $447 million worth of bonds to finance road and parks projects in Williamson County.

The tally showed 30,587 voters, or 62 percent of the vote, cast votes in favor of issuing $412 million in bonds for road work while another 18,381 (38 percent) voted against the measure.

A second proposition called for a $35 million bond issue for creation of parks. Tuesday night's tally showed 28,954 voters — 59 percent of the total — approved the measure. Another 19,979 ballots (41 percent) voted against the bond proposals.

Despite the quality-of-life projects touted by county officials, the proposal was a hard sell among many residents worried about the county's existing indebtedness. While county officials assured the bonds issues wouldn't require a tax increase to help service the new debt, many voters seemed skeptical of the promise.

Related stories:

• WilCo Election Guide 2019: What's On The Ballot
• Constitutional Amendments In Texas: 2019 Election Results
• WilCo Chamber Heads Voice Support For $477M Bond Proposal

In the days before the election, the heads of seven area chambers of commerce came out in favor of the bonds measure. Williamson County Judge Bill Gravel also voiced support while noting the county's brisk growth necessitated the bond-funded projects: "Williamson County is the fifth fastest growing county in the State of Texas," he said in a recent prepared statement. "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."

But the issue also galvanized residents opposed to the taking on of more public debt in a county now ranking in the top 2.5 percent nationwide for high property taxes, as an organized group of opponents claimed in its political literature. Others were leery of the enthusiastic support for the bonds proposal among industry insiders — including a corporate-backed political action committee (PAC) that raised more than $150,000 to back the measure. Residents opposed to the measure perceived the plans as being of greater benefit to corporate interests than residents.