The city of Round Rock will operate on a $444,745,032 budget for fiscal year 2019-20, following City Council adoption Sept. 12. The approved budget includes approximately $214 million earmarked for capital improvement projects, which will fund large-scale transportation projects, parks, trails, utilities and city facilities. Nearly $125 million will go toward daily operating expenses—including 11 new employees, 6 of which are public safety positions with the police and fire departments. Around $106 million of the budget will be used for programs including utility, drainage, sports tourism and facilities. “This is a very tight budget,” Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan said. “It’s focused very clearly on core services that our citizens are demanding in Round Rock.”

Budget highlights

One-time public safety equipment replacements -A new fire station, scheduled to open in November 2020 -Armored personnel vehicle for the police department -New fire truck Transportation improvement projects -Kenney Fort Boulevard -Gattis School Road -Red Bud Lane -University Boulevard Recreation and culture -New public library: currently under design, with groundbreaking expected in 2021 -Trails: extensions and improvements for Brushy Creek, Heritage Trail and Lake Creek trails -Downtown improvements: landscaping, lighting, sidewalk upgrades -Repairs to tennis courts at Old Settler’s Park

Impact on taxpayers

The property tax rate has been proposed at $0.439 per $100 of assessed value, up from last year’s $0.420. For the owner of a $255,198 valued home—the citywide median—this translates to an annual city property tax bill around $1,120 in 2020, or about $93 per month. City Council adopted the budget and voted to ratify the tax rate, but it cannot officially adopt the tax rate until Sept. 26.

Get involved

The FY 2019-20 budget year begins Oct. 1. The first of two public hearings on the tax rate took place Sept. 12. An additional is scheduled to take place at Round Rock City Hall, 221 E. Main St., Round Rock before council adopts the property tax rate. -Sept. 19: Second and final tax rate public hearing -Sept. 26: City Council adopts property tax rate “We’re willing to sit down with you and talk to anybody about this budget,” Morgan said.