Government
BY GRACIE WARHURST
Georgetown proposes speed bump alternatives Georgetown officials are considering removing speed bumps from its list of adopted traffic calm- ing measures in the proposed 2025 Neighborhood Traffic Management policy. The details Speed calming measures such as roundabouts, speed-activated signs and speed bumps help reduce vehicle speeds and decrease crash fre- quency, according to city documents. While measures such as speed bumps, humps and cushions can reduce speed by 15-20 mph, they can also hinder emergency vehicles and contribute to noise pollution, Georgetown Transportation Manager Lua Saluone said at an Oct. 28 City Council workshop. Although these measures reduce traffic by 20%, they can create a backup elsewhere, pushing traffic onto neighboring roads, Saluone said. The 2025 Neighborhood Traffic Management policy proposes removing speed humps, raised intersections and crosswalks, full closures, and one-way streets from the list of approved traffic calming measures. GFiber to increase local internet options Georgetown residents will soon have access to GFiber high-speed internet, following City Council’s approval of a license agreement with the service provider Oct. 14. How it works GFiber, formerly Google Fiber, will start construction in the southeast portion of the city in 2026, according to a news release. Users can gain service as portions of the network are completed. The installation involves microtrenching, or underground channels along roads, curbs and sidewalks to install the fiber cables. “Our intent when we come into this community would be to build our network to pass every resident and small business,” John-Michael Cortez, head of government and media affairs for GFiber in Texas, said.
$800M to be invested in WilCo hospitals The Ascension Seton Health Alliance, a network of doctors and hospitals in the Aus- tin metro area, will invest $800 million in its Williamson County facilities after the county approved the issuance of bonds Oct. 28. The breakdown ASHA has plans to improve some of its existing facilities throughout the state, amounting to more than $1 billion, Jerry Kyle, a partner at public finance firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, said at a Commis- sioners Court meeting Oct. 28.
Measures remaining in the policy, include: Slowing speeds
Roundabouts and traffic circles
Traffic enforcement
Road markings
Speed-activated signs and radars
Chokers that narrow the roadway
New measures proposed in the policy include:
Intersection curb extensions
S-curves in streets
SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
About the program Georgetown’s Neighborhood Traffic Manage- ment program allows residents to address con- cerns about speeding, traffic and safety. Homeowner and neighborhood groups can request traffic studies and improvements on exist- ing city streets through an application process, as long as they have support from a majority of residents. Approved projects are evaluated and implemented based on eligibility and funding. Property owners receive tax bill from county Williamson County property taxes are due soon, and become delinquent, incurring penalty and interest, Feb. 1. Most property owners received their 2025 property tax statements in late October, after they were mailed out beginning Oct. 21, according to a county news release. Something to note Statements for about 55,000 properties in the city of Austin, Liberty Hill ISD, Taylor ISD, Coupland ISD and the Anderson Mill Limited District were delayed until after the Nov. 4 general election, as voters were asked to approve these entities’ adopted rates. Locally, Liberty Hill ISD voters approved the district’s tax rate election, with 52.19% of voters supporting the measure. This allows the district to have a maintenance
Area upgrades
Ascension Seton Emergency Center in Leander: $20M Ascension Seton Wound Care Center in Cedar Park: $25M Seton Williamson Hospital
in Round Rock: $275M Ascension Seton Cedar Park Hospital: $480M
Total: $800M
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
What you need to know Taxpayers can pay their bill online through www.wilcotx.gov/taxoffice or utilize payment drop boxes located at all Williamson County tax office locations
For more information, visit https://tax.wilcotx.gov
Questions can be directed to propertytax@wilcotx.gov or 512-943-1601
and operations tax rate of $0.7389 per $100 valu- ation, which is about $0.07 higher than the fiscal year 2024-25 M&O tax rate of $0.6669 per $100 valuation. The interest and sinking tax rate would remain at $0.50 per $100 valuation, making for a combined tax rate of $1.2389 per $100 valuation. The increased tax rate will generate $10.7 million in additional revenue to invest $7.2 million in student programs, $2.2 million into teacher and staff retention, and $1.3 million in safety and security initiatives.
12
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook