Georgetown Edition | June 2026

Government

BY GRACIE WARHURST

Georgetown ocials eye potential May 2027 bond election

These potential transportation upgrades include roadway expansions along FM 971, Hwy. 29 East, the Southwest Bypass and Williams Drive, as well as an Austin Avenue road reconguration with enhancements to the historic downtown square. Needs for general government facilities come out to about $70 million, and would go to projects including renovations for re stations Nos. 3 and 4, Phase 3 of the Public Safety Operations and Training Complex, building proposed re stations Nos. 9 and 10, and renovating the library. About $54 million of the bond would be left over to address various parks and trails upgrades. A $75 million upgrade to San Gabriel Park could also be on the table but would require reducing other project funding or a 2% tax rate increase, Woolery said.

During a May 12 meeting, city ocials asked council members for direction on projects to include in a May 2027 bond election, which will fund capital improvements over the next 12 years. Conservative nancial models predict Georgetown will have a debt capacity of about $494 million between scal years 2028-29 and 2037-38, Assistant City Manager Nick Woolery said. About $69.6 million of that debt capacity would be used for projects that don’t require voter approval, including purchasing police and re vehicles, and park equipment. The majority of the remaining funding is bookmarked for transportation projects, which is a community priority, he said. There is an estimated $300 million dedicated for future road projects, with $168 million categorized as “near-term needs,” Woolery said.

Projected bond breakdown The potential bond could fund transportation, facilities, and parks and trails projects.

$300M transportation

$70M facilities

$54M parks and trails

$424M total

SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY IMPACT

Zooming out

What’s next?

Council members also approved $38.22 million in certicates of obligation, which don’t require voter approval, to address the city’s rapid growth, according to city documents. The COs will fund: • $12.9 million in street upgrades, including $11.9 million to construct and expand Leander Road • $11 million for Fire Station No. 8 • $6.65 million for police and re eet vehicles • $3.5 million for parks • $1.25 million for stormwater improvements and ood mitigation

During an April 28 meeting, City Council approved spending over $92 million in previously authorized bonds, which will fund public safety, road and facilities projects. This included $54 million in voter-approved general obligation bonds, including: • $49 million for the new Customer Service Center • $4 million for the renovation and expansion of the Georgetown Recreation Center • $1 million for priority sidewalks, and related safety and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility improvements

Council members will need to vote to hold a May 2027 bond election by February. City sta will bring more specic models to council this August to determine if the bond will be combined for transportation, facilities and parks projects, City Manager David Morgan said. This will also allow time for City Council to put together community interest groups to determine project priorities, especially for parks and trails, ocials said.

GEORGETOWN EDITION