GEORGETOWN — County commissioners followed up their unanimous decision this past week to pay almost $76 million for land to house a controversial justice center by issuing a $150 million tax note.
The funds will cover the cost of the proposed Williamson County Justice Complex including a new jail located near two schools and residential areas, which has raised the ire of neighbors.
The Williamson County Commissioners Court also
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Some of these (expenses) may be incurred prior to the money arriving in our bank account.”
— Commissioner Valerie Covey approved a resolution allowing County Judge Steven Snell to reimburse the tax anticipation note, or TAN, for the purchase of the 255 acres for the justice complex at the corner of Inner Loop and CR 110.
He was not at the meeting. Members on the dais May 19 also OK’d $26 million in Fiscal Year 2026 capital-improvement project funding for initiatives already underway they want to complete, such as technological upgrades and renovations to the Lake Creek Annex.
County Auditor Julie Kiley noted the capital-improvement projects, or CIP, include items the commissioners have discussed over the past several months, including the expansion of the juvenile justice center.
Commissioners have already approved the next three phases of that project.
“Do we want (the juvenile justice complex) money to come from our CIP program, or do we wish to wrap that up in this (tax) anticipation note?” Kiley asked commissioners.
Kiley provided other suggestions to the court for use of the funds, including seed money for projects related to the new jail and justice complex.
Commissioners raised the previous week’s estimated tax anticipation note of $135 million to $150 million, which they determined would cover $17 million for phases three through five of the juvenile justice center expansion, $50 million to close out the right of way for the 2023 road bonds and $76 million for the cost of the land and continuing work on the Justice Complex.
A tax anticipation note finances state or local operations until expected tax revenue is received; the proceeds are then used to repay the debt.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said the resolution was needed for the county to reimburse itself from the TAN.
“Some of these (expenses) may be incurred prior to the money arriving in our bank account,” Covey said.
Commissioners also supported a breakdown of expenditures between the $150 million TAN and $26 million for FY2026 CIP, with specific focus centering on current projects, excluding those in Precinct 4.
“That’s not to include the $20 million of CIP for next year, which is where I’m thinking about Precinct 4,” Covey said.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles had no comment and approved the motions.
Commissioners will next meet at 9:30 a.m. June 2 at 710 S. Main St.
Sessions can also be viewed online at wilcotx.gov/331/ Commissioners- Court.
