Georgetown council workshops $130 million bond package

During a workshop session Aug. 8, Georgetown City Council discussed a $130 million bond package that, if called, will go before voters in November.

The specifics

The bond is proposed to include the following projects:

• Customer service center, $56 million: approximately 80,000-square-foot building to create a “one-stop shop” for departments such as planning, inspections, engineering, human resources and IT; would save the city around $866,000 a year in operating funds currently being used to lease space off Inner Loop
• Georgetown Recreation Center, $49 million: From the parks and recreation master plan, this project would expand and renovate the current recreation center on Austin Avenue.
• Animal shelter, $15 million: In partnership with the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, the funding would expand the current shelter as it is at overcapacity.
• Georgetown Family YMCA, $10 million: a memorandum of understanding between the city and the YMCA for a jointly owned recreation center and indoor swimming pool facility.

The ballot is proposed to include Proposition A with the customer service center, Proposition B with the recreation center, Proposition C with the animal shelter and Proposition D with the YMCA.

Various Blue Hole Park improvements at $6 million were initially part of Proposition B on the bond, but during the workshop, were removed by council members who agreed that the project could be completed through a certificate of obligation instead. The removal of the item brings the total cost of the bond from the initial $136 million to $130 million.

What’s next

• Council will call the election Aug. 15.
• Community outreach and education will take place September-November.
• Early voting will take place Oct. 23-Nov. 3.
• Election day is Nov. 7.