Williamson County voters approve $884 million bond package

Claire Osborn, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·2 min read

Williamson County residents approved by a wide margin both propositions in an $884 million bond package, the largest in the county's history. Officials have said the passage of the bonds will not raise the tax rate.

Proposition A asked for $825 million for 38 transportation projects. Sixty-four percent of voters said yes to the measure, with a final vote of 28,651 to 15,883.

Proposition B is $59 million for parks improvements and acquisitions. Voters supported it with 61% of the vote at 27,025 to 17,552.

The five most expensive road projects listed in Prop A include $96 million to turn Ronald Reagan Boulevard from a two-lane to a four-lane road from FM 3405 to Sun City Boulevard, and $86.5 million to complete two lanes of the Liberty Hill bypass off Texas 29.

More: Williamson County puts largest bond package, for roads and parks, on November ballot

Williamson County officials are asking voters to approve an $884 bond package for roads and parks that will not raise the tax rate.
Williamson County officials are asking voters to approve an $884 bond package for roads and parks that will not raise the tax rate.

They also include $87 million to build a two-lane road from Chandler Road to Texas 29 and $80 million to construct a two-lane road from County Road 137 to County Road 404. A $47 million project to build a three-lane road called Robinson Ranch Road from Texas 45 to McNeil Road is the fifth-most expensive request among the road projects.

More: Williamson County OKs $447 million bond vote

The five most expensive projects in Prop B include $25 million for future parkland and $16 million for the county's Expo Center to build a covered arena with restrooms and showers and to buy land to accommodate expanded facilities and future buildout.

They also include $3.9 million to build an adventure course at Twin Lakes Park and to expand parking at the Twin Lakes Family YMCA, along with $3 million to connect the Brushy Creek Regional Trail between the Fern Bluff Municipal Utility District and the city of Round Rock.

More: Central Texas city is the fastest-growing city in America. And it isn't Austin.

The fifth most expensive project is $2.9 million to build a 2.8-mile trail connection along Berry Creek between Berry Springs Park and Preserve and Georgetown’s Westside Park.

Williamson County is the third fastest-growing county in Texas with a population of more than 700,000, county officials have said. They said the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization projects the county's population will reach just under a million people by 2030.

The number of vehicles registered in the county has increased 41.3% over the past 12 years, to around 530,000 this year, Williamson County Commissioner Terry Cook has said.

The county's previous biggest bond passed in 2019 when voters approved $412 million for roads and $35 million for parks.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Williamson County election: Voters approve $884 million in bonds