Williamson County voters will get their say this November on a $315 million bond package that includes two propositions. The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved the ballot language Aug. 20 for the Nov. 5 bond election.

The court's bond attorney Carol Palumbo presented a draft and final ballot wording, and commissioners approved two separate propositions it contained.

The first proposition, approved by commissioners unanimously, includes $275 million for road projects. Specific road improvement or construction projects submitted by the commissioners for each precinct were included, and the language allows for bond funds to be used on unspecified road projects.

The second proposition includes $40 million for parks projects, including money to build an events center in Taylor. Commissioners voted 3-2 with Lisa Birkman and Valerie Covey voting against the proposition.

"I'm voting against it because I think it's too much money, and I think the expo center should be a separate item," Birkman said.

In a bond workshop on Aug. 8, Birkman abstained from approving the $40 million parks bond proposal because she said she was unsure residents in her precinct, where the parks are largely built out, would use the trail and park improvements in other precincts.

Covey echoed Birkman's concern about the events center being included with parks improvements.

"I'm voting no because I wanted it to be three propositions instead of two," she said. "I'm fearful [that] because of [including expenses to build the expo center], we could lose the entire bond election."

At the July 23 Commissioners Court meeting, County Auditor David Flores said the court the county could request a bond election of up to $400 million without increasing the county's debt service tax rate.

The ballot language and complete list of projects can be found on the county bond committee website, www.wilco.org/bondcommittee.