The Round Rock City Council voted unanimously at the Feb. 9 meeting to call for a bond election to be held in conjunction with the General Election on May 6, 2023.
Round Rock voters will be presented with two General Obligation (GO) bond propositions totaling $274 million for long-term capital projects.
Proposition A covers parks, recreation and sports and totals $230 million. This proposition would provide funding for construction of hike/bike trails, a remodel of the Clay Madsen Recreation Center, improvements to the Play for All Park, construction of a new park on Brushy Creek in Downtown Round Rock and an expansion of the Sports Center. It would also provide funding for several active amenities within Old Settlers Park, including a new recreation center, a new Lakeview Pavilion, additions to Rock’N River, an expansion of the Multipurpose Complex and replacement tennis courts, as well as systemwide infrastructure throughout the park.
Proposition B covers public safety and totals $44 million. This proposition would provide funding for expansion of the Public Safety Training Center, including new classrooms and a driving track, as well as the relocation of Central Fire Station and two new stations on the north side of Round Rock.
“This bond program was developed and prioritized through several years of citizen engagement and aligns with the City Council’s long-standing strategic goals,” said Mayor Craig Morgan. “From public safety to parks, recreation and sports, this wide range of capital projects aims to help us address residents’ priorities in a way that is fiscally responsible and feasible.”
The projects, if approved, have expected completion dates in the next five to seven years.
The City of Round Rock’s management of cash and debt levels allows Council to issue debt when it’s needed throughout the bond program in order to take advantage of market conditions, said Chief Financial Officer Susan Morgan. If voters approve both propositions at $274 million, the total tax rate — including the debt rate and maintenance and operations rate — would have an eventual impact of $0.069 on property taxes over the next five to seven years, with an estimated increase of $3-4 to the median homeowner’s monthly property tax bill on an annual basis.
The City of Round Rock’s last GO bond was approved by voters in 2013 and totaled $123.6 million. A range of projects were funded by the bond program, including three new fire stations, a new 65,000 square foot public safety training facility, improvements to Rock’N River, the Multipurpose Complex, Brushy Creek Trail from Veterans Park to Rabb Park, several parks improvements and the new Round Rock Public Library that opened on Jan. 28.
To cast a ballot in the May 6 bond election, voters must be residents within the city limits of the City of Round Rock. Early voting will be held from April 24 through May 2.
To learn more about the proposed projects and to view answers to frequently asked questions, visit roundrocktexas.gov/bond.
