The city of New Braunfels could be calling a May 2027 bond election.
City staff presented five potential bond propositions for City Council consideration during a July 17 summer workshop, including:
- Citywide street, pedestrian and intersection improvements
- Citywide drainage improvements
- Northwest Park Phase 1
- Joint public safety training facility
- Public safety equipment and vehicle replacement
If each project is capped at $25 million, the council would be considering $125 million worth of investments. However, the city’s current tax rate allows for only a $75 million bond election with no tax rate impact, according to the workshop presentation. If all five propositions were added to the ballot and then approved, the package would be a tax increase.
Sorting out details
The proposed citywide street, pedestrian and intersection improvements proposition would rehabilitate existing city street pavement, curbs and sidewalks. The proposition would also add turn lanes, pedestrian signals and upgrade vehicle detection technology.
The proposed citywide drainage improvements proposition identifies two potential drainage improvement projects at Blieders Creek and Cross Street. The proposed Blieders Creek drainage improvement project would divert partial flows of Blieders Creek to the Guadalupe River, according to the workshop presentation.
Deputy City Manager Jordan Matney said this would be a good opportunity to leverage alternative funding through the city’s development agreement with Veramendi. The project is also included in the state’s flood plan, which means it would be eligible for a flood infrastructure grant.
The other project highlighted was the Cross Street Drainage Improvement Project, which would improve the drainage system to collect and connect to the Cross Street drainage improvements, according to the workshop presentation.
Another proposition includes Phase 1 of the 145-acre Northwest Park project, which city staff is projecting to cost $25 million. Phase 1 would fund roadways, parking, utilities, amenities and trails, according to the presentation.
The fourth potential bond proposition would support a public safety training facility for the city’s fire and police departments. The City Council previously approved a feasibility study for the potential project in June.
Another potential bond proposition would support replacing existing fire and police department apparatus. There are 65 pieces of fire department equipment expected to need replacing from now until fiscal year 2032. There are about 115 police vehicles, most of which are police pursuit vehicles, that are also projected to need replacing between FY 2027 and FY 2032, the presentation states.
Why now?
The city is recommending a 2027 bond in an attempt to get ahead of anticipated legislative changes.
The state legislature continues to file bills seeking to limit municipalities' ability to issue debt for capital needs. Bills filed by legislators in 2025 indicate support for restricting certificate of obligation issuance for only certain categories of capital investment and imposing a cap on property tax-supported debt service to 20% of annual property tax collections, according to the presentation. Legislators also supported eliminating the May election date and requiring two-thirds approval for bond or debt propositions, as opposed to a majority, the presentation states, although those proposals did not pass. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have also indicated that property tax relief will remain a primary focus for the 2027 session, according to the presentation.
The discussion
District 2 City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Michael Capizzi said he felt confident that the public safety proposition would get passed.
Mayor Michael French said he wanted to cut one or two of the proposed propositions from the list, but liked the proposed citywide street improvements and drainage propositions.
District 5 council member Mary Ann Labowski said she was looking at the proposed public safety training facility, equipment replacement and drainage improvement propositions.
District 4 council member Lawrence Spradley said public safety is always a “No. 1 priority” for him, followed by the citywide streets/pedestrian and the drainage improvements.
District 1 council member Toni Carter said she opposed the proposed Northwest Park proposition and was for the public safety training facility and equipment propositions.
Stay tuned
City staff will continue to refine project scopes, develop updated cost estimates and prepare a range of potential bond proposition scenarios for City Council's consideration. Staff is expected to present those scenarios to council and receive additional policy direction in the fall. A formal public engagement schedule has not been established, but there will be several opportunities for residents and stakeholders to provide input to city staff and City Council before a bond election is called in early 2027, according to an email from the city.
