WilCo commissioners greenlight site purchase, $150M for new justice complex

A new justice center is planned for Georgetown as county officials advanced a land purchase and funding plan for the project. 

Williamson County (WilCo) commissioners on May 19 voted to close a deal on a 253-acre tract in southeast Georgetown for the county’s planned Justice Complex. They also authorized up to $150 million in tax anticipation notes (TANs) to fund both the land purchase and near-term project costs.  

The 4-0 vote locks in the Georgetown site at $75.82 million, helping to clear a financing path for a phased justice campus that county leaders say is needed to replace aging downtown facilities. It also addresses projected increased demand from one of the state’s fastest-growing counties.  

The complex is targeted for initial operation around 2030, according to project manager statements at a December 2025 meeting. 

The tract deal anchors a proposed campus-style buildout next to the county’s new Administrator Building on Southeast Inner Loop. The property contract ultimately covers four adjacent parcels in southeast Georgetown, with the largest being a 134-acre triangular tract at 1200 CR 110, along with another 119 acres south of Sam Houston Avenue and east of Maple Street. 

The combined parcels offer access from Interstate 35 (I-35) and State Highway 130 (S.H. 130), with proximity to hospitals in Georgetown and Round Rock. The new complex is intended to house courtrooms, a jail, the sheriff’s office and related justice services, according to prior county briefings.  

To pay for it, the court authorized the TANs, which are short-term financing instruments used by local entities to fund projects ahead of expected tax revenue. That amount covers the nearly $76 million land cost, along with additional headroom for upcoming project expenses. 

The financing decision builds on years of warnings from county officials that the existing downtown Justice Center can no longer keep up with demand. The current center sits in downtown Georgetown next to the county jail and houses courtrooms, the sheriff’s office and administrative offices.  

According to officials, the county added a new 512th District Court in fiscal year 2026 (FY26), with no available courtroom space to support it. They also note that staff are doubled up in shared work areas, while space for attorneys and clients to meet is in short supply. Due to this, officials cited additional courtroom space as the most pressing need.  

With financing in place and the operational needs established, the next step is execution. To facilitate this, a private firm will serve as project manager. The firm already completed Phase 1, which involved facility walk-throughs of the jail, courts and law enforcement center, to estimate spatial needs and assemble a candidate site list.  

The court approved Phase 2 in December 2025, with that work scheduled to begin in early spring 2026. Phase 2 will drill deeper into department-level space requirements to help narrow down project details. 

Total project cost was estimated at $500 million to $700 million by Kitchell/CEM in its December 2025 update to the court. That range reflects a phased buildout rather than a single construction package, with cost refinement expected as Phase 2 work progresses.  

Closing on the land, additional financing actions, city of Georgetown rezoning and final scope decisions all remain ahead. Over time, the campus is also intended to support consolidation of other county operations. 

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