Cedar Park City Council unanimously approved a resolution Feb. 10 to include the bond program in the May 7 election. The approved program is based on the recommendation of a citizen bond advisory task force, which presented its findings to City Council in January.
The $158.8 million bond will include three propositions: $86.6 million for transportation projects, $42.2 million for parks and recreation projects and $30 million for a public safety project. Voters do not approve bond propositions based on specific projects, but voters approve buckets of funds for project types, such as transportation or parks projects.
The total bond cost includes additional funding for inflation and cost escalation over time. In today's dollars, the program would cost $125.3 million. Additionally, the bond will not require a property tax rate increase, city Finance Director Kent Meredith said.
Recommended transportation projects include:
- Whitestone Boulevard at 183A Toll innovative intersection
- Anderson Mill Road Phase 2
- Neighborhood road resurfacing
- Bike and pedestrian improvements
- Turn lane improvements
- Turn signal improvements
- Major road resurfacing
- Toro Grande North extension
- Lakeline Boulevard ice damage and safety improvements
- New Hope Drive at 183A Toll innovative intersection design
- New Hope Drive expansion from RM 1431 to Lakeline Boulevard
- Ronald Reagan Boulevard expansion design
Recommended parks and recreation projects include:
- Lakeline Park Phase 2
- Veterans Park pool expansion
- Brushy Creek Sports Park athletic field turf improvements
- Trail development
One public safety project was recommended for the first phase of a public safety training facility for the police, fire and emergency management departments.
Cities can use voter-approved general obligation bonds to borrow money to finance large capital improvement projects, such as roads, parks or buildings. Bonds are repaid through the interest and sinking part of property taxes. Cedar Park voters last approved a bond in 2015 in a $96.7 million program that included projects such as the new city library, road improvements, Lakeline Park and public safety building improvements.
Voters will also decide on four Cedar Park City Council races for mayor and three council members.
Here are five May election dates to know:
- April 7: last day to register to vote
- April 25: first day of early voting
- April 26: last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked)
- May 3: last day of early voting
- May 7: election day
