October 2011
Lake Travis
Economic Impact Report

Travis County Bond Projects Process
Explained by Commissioner Huber

If you want (or don’t want!) a Travis County park improvement or a county road or bridge fixed, you should read this article.  Travis County is scheduled to have a bond referendum in November and it has come to my attention that many residents may not understand how Travis County goes about deciding which projects will end up on the ballot.  Well, here is how it is done.

First, Commissioners Court appoints a Bond Advisory Committee – which happened this past February.  Each Commissioner and the Judge made three appointments.  Because my precinct is so large (48% of the geographic area of the County and both north and south of Lake Travis), I was intent on appointing individuals that would bring good geographic representation to the table and I worked with Judge Biscoe to be sure that my precinct was appropriately represented.  My appointments include:  Mark Taylor Evert from Lago Vista, Dr. Leigh Naftolin from the Lakeway area, Carolyn Vogel from the South Austin area.  The Judge appointed Nell Penridge from the Southwest Travis County unincorporated area and Terrence Irion from the Barton Creek area. 

This Committee goes through an educational process on county bonds and financing that provides a good understanding of how to balance priorities and needs in formulating the ultimate recommendations for the final list of bond projects.  Presentations on particular projects are made and public hearings are held allowing residents to voice their opinions to the Committee and provide information relating to the need of a project.  The proposed list is presented to the Commissioners Court sometime in late summer where we generally follow the recommendations of the Advisory Panel, but we have final authority to make changes.

Whether or not a project is or is not on “The List” is already the topic of emails and neighborhood discussions.   Actually, there are multiple lists.   All county departments do long-term planning for capital needs -- including parks and open space, facilities, roadways, drainage and bridge projects.  Each department has its own “wish lists” and they are (re-)prioritized as needs and growth demands change.  For example, an intersection improvement may get on a list because the County knows that a school district plans a new school that will affect that intersection.  Then maybe, the school district bond referendum for that school fails to get voter approval.  This would likely trigger the removal of the project from the list.  Similarly, Western Travis County has 39 low water crossings.  The County’s Transportation and Natural Resources (TNR) Department keeps a list of these from both a standpoint of improving drainage and possible bridge construction.  The priorities on these lists can change according to criteria such as growth patterns amongst others.  One of the priority considerations for low water crossings is whether or not there is alternate access to that area which does not include a low-water crossing. 

All “lists” are presented to the bond committee.  Projects can be added or deleted as the Committee is presented with new information.  Critical to project consideration is the majority opinion of residents affected by a particular project. 

The Bond Advisory Committee recommends and ultimately the Commissioners Court decides on a final project list to send to the voters.  Decision-making considerations include:  balancing the number, as well as types, of projects throughout the county; ensuring a bond list of total value that fits appropriately within the parameters of bond indebtedness and perceived voter appeal; proposing a list that respects the timeliness of need in the project priorities, etc. 

If you have questions regarding a proposed project or would like to see one added, you may contact either Steve Manilla or Carol Joseph at 854-9383.  The Bond Advisory Committee meetings are open meetings- they are posted and the public may attend.  Information regarding the bond referendum process, meeting dates, etc. can be found on the County’s website at http://www.co.travis.tx.us/tnr/.  More information on that site to come soon.  My office phone number is (512) 854-9333 or email me at Karen.huber@co.travis.tx.us.

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