The outlook
According to City Council discussion June 6, city officials are considering calling for a bond election to fund FY 2023-24 capital improvement projects. Citing the high cost of building the Hyatt Regency Conroe and Convention Center that opened in May, council members agreed calling for a bond could be the best way to fund high-priority projects. Voters would weigh in on the bond. City officials said a bond election could be called for November or May, but the idea of a bond election must first be presented to council.
City officials could not provide a date for when the last bond was called but said it has been more than 17 years.
A few projects that could appear on a potential ballot for a bond include:
- Water and sewer building expansion: $1.2 million
- Police driving track property: $2 million
- Fire station at Grand Central Park: $8 million
- New senior center: Cost TBD
- Performing arts center: Cost TBD
Besides the idea of calling a bond election for larger projects, City Council and department leaders discussed additional capital improvement projects needed throughout the city. Boothe said project submissions for FY 2023-24 total over $403.5 million. With a similar dollar amount as the ongoing fiscal year, Boothe said the city only approved $127.6 million for CIP projects in FY 2022-23.
Street projects
- Street rehab at Lake Conroe Forest Phase 2: $3.7 million
- Street rehab for Tanglewood-Briarwood Phase 2: $6.7 million
- Downtown alleyway improvements: $500,000
- Airport Road extension: $10 million
- Aquatic Center improvements: $1.6 million
- Parkland acquisition: $5 million
- San Jacinto River Trail: $485,000
- Senior Center improvements: $2 million
- Water plant at Moran Ranch: $400,000
- Water plant in Northwest Operational Zone: $8 million
- Water extension for Old Montgomery Road: $2.2 million
- Water well redrilling for plants Nos. 6 & 14: $3.7 each
No action was taken at the budget workshop. All projects are still in the discussion phase and can be moved to different fiscal years or killed until a vote is taken in September on the budget.
Regarding a possible bond election, Boothe said there is no timeline as the idea needs to be presented to council. A presentation on the process and use of bond funds is expected to be held during a future Conroe City Council meeting.
- The proposed budget will be submitted to City Council on July 20.
- A vote will take place for the budget proposal on Sept. 14.