\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGeorgetown officials began planning for a potential bond election in May 2027, which would help the city address long-term infrastructure needs.<\/p>\n
While current debt capacity is committed through the next three years, the city aims to identify road, park and facility projects to support projected population growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we look beyond three years, we do not have any projects that have been voter approved,\u201d Assistant City Manager Nick Woolery said at a Jan. 13 City Council workshop. \u201cSo once we get beyond those three years, it’s really time to start thinking through what projects [we are] going to use that capacity for.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a nutshell<\/p>\n
Woolery said a May 2027 bond election is the ideal timing to allow projects to begin construction in 2029.<\/p>\n
City Council will work to prioritize projects from now until 2027 leading up to the election. Potential projects come from city master plans approved in recent years, such as the Future Mobility Plan and the Downtown Master Plan<\/a>, as well as projects that already have preliminary engineering complete, Woolery said.<\/p>\n These projects include:<\/p>\n San Gabriel Park Phase 4Hwy. 29 EastFM 971NE Inner Loop\u201cA lot of planning work has been done, which I think will make it a little bit easier for council to prioritize projects,\u201d Woolery said.<\/p>\n The history<\/p>\n Georgetown voters approved bond packages in 2008, 2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023<\/a>, according to city documents.<\/p>\n Of these approved bond packages, there is $122 million available to be issued. The majority of this funding will go toward facilities projects approved in 2023 and slated for construction over the next three years, Woolery said. Those projects<\/a> include building the new Customer Service Center<\/a>, and expanding and renovating the Georgetown Recreation Center.<\/p>\n Explained<\/p>\n Cities and other municipalities must hold an election and receive voter approval in order to issue bonds paid for through property taxes, according to state code<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can let the citizens decide if they want more roads, if they want less traffic,\u201d Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Pitts said at the Jan. 13 meeting. \u201dIt\u2019s going to cost money to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n