Williamson County commissioners call $884M November bond election for roads and parks

How we got here

The court’s decision comes weeks after the Williamson County Citizens Bond Committee recommended an almost $1.8 billion roads and parks bond election to accommodate the county’s growth.

Williamson County's population grew by 10% from 2020 to 2022, according to the U.S. census.

“I don't think anybody argues the need,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said at a June 27 meeting. “The hard part is prioritizing what we need to do because we don't have an infinite amount of money at any one time, and the costs have gone up so much."

In the county's most recent 2019 bond election, voters approved a $412 million road bond and $35 million parks bond. The court later issued $150 million in short-term debt in March to finish road projects from the 2019 bond.

While the court has historically issued bond elections every six years, the commissioners expressed support for calling a bond election in 2023 to address the county's growing needs.

“I believe that we're behind,” County Judge Bill Gravell said June 27. “I believe two things that have occurred: The cost of construction has escalated, but the needs have escalated exponentially as well.”