Hays County commissioners are moving forward with their $440 million plan to improve roadways and traffic flow despite funding uncertainty.
Public officials said the county plans to borrow money—with no voter approval needed—to start work on a series of projects intended to decrease congestion and increase capacity in an area projected to double in population over the next 20 years.
Voters passed the original $440 million bond package, dubbed “Proposition A,” in November. A group of property owners filed a lawsuit alleging the county violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by not properly disclosing a scheduled public meeting and limiting public speaking time prior to the proposition appearing on the ballot.
A Travis County district judge ruled on that case last month, rendering the road bond package void despite voter approval.
Hays County commissioners unanimously voted to appeal that ruling on July 8, claiming they held open houses for the public detailing the bond and its associated projects.
While the appeal process takes place, county commissioners intend to pursue other funding options so that work may begin on the most important projects. They plan to identify these projects and source enough funding to complete design and possibly engineering work, according to officials, citing the fact that the appeal process could take months.
The interim funding will come in the form of loans called Certificates of Obligation (COs). This funding type does not require voter approval for commissioners to proceed.
The projects included in the road bond package are intended to address current and future growth in the county. Forecasts show the Austin area—which includes Hays County—could double in population by the year 2045. Officials argued that the planned projects would ease traffic congestion, safety and efficiency of roads leading to the busy I-35.
County commissioners are now working to prioritize which of the 31 planned projects are most critical for public safety and traffic flow. The first phase of work using COs is expected to focus on design and engineering studies, allowing construction to begin more quickly if the appeal succeeds.
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