[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6244399,"mediaKeyId","3230254-4d6fb700123f060a355fdd9359e1492c","parentId",3230254,"title","County authorizes staff to pursue up to $30 million certificates of obligation ahead of possible state limits","audioSeconds",2676,"startMs",2587000,"endMs",5263000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3230254-4d6fb700123f060a355fdd9359e1492c&start=2587&end=5263","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3230254-4d6fb700123f060a355fdd9359e1492c/thumbnail_2587000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6244399/McLennan-County/Texas/County-authorizes-staff-to-pursue-up-to-30-million-certificates-of-obligation-ahead-of-possible-state-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244399-6884d20d2fb294851245f9151b08e47a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193899&Signature=XX4dDkVp943zhY~s4-HKRNys4PmZ37wTJIEkNDZrPmzaSJObu6j54yY7fzJQjTzOYChzPiQVIF7huUUAPpAHAxFyQODGqeXpL5ZP5HmxAym-4dyz6H3JVMN8djhg83W4WkGvsXTYPRN6-6o2edT8BGJjrQLjfuiGDcSOkvImWcM2ryUc5pFRXjzKSgHExJIs~9vefg~wqn9qOO-1VN2LzqPB33OnaH-CTBieGs2Az~yvsa-uqg0DQUNjgczmsx73hc~C8lO3OjSORo--BBWvZk~tPoyR54VXqrN4Wolie~w6KkCTwZDdvgMZFKiTJwberxsR8g~Mt2qwPICil0Jaug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","McLennan County, Texas","date","2025-05-06T21:52:00Z","article","McLennan County commissioners on May 6 authorized county staff and the county’s financial adviser to proceed with planning for a certificate of obligation financing, potentially not to exceed $30 million, to fund a range of capital projects and to protect the county’s flexibility if state law changes.

Mark McClainey of Samco Capital Markets reviewed the rationale and timeline with the court. He said the Texas Legislature is considering House Bill 19, which could restrict local governments’ ability to use certificates of obligation, and recommended a defensive financing timetable. The calendar presented included a notice of intent resolution at the court’s May 20 meeting, a sale around July 15, and closing in early August so proceeds would be secured before an Aug. 31 statutory effective date or similar change. \"This sets us up to borrow and meet a timeline to proceed,\" McClainey told the court.

The financing plan explained how rolling a new issue into the county’s existing debt structure could allow needed projects without increasing the county’s interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate in the near term. McClainey and county staff emphasized that the proposed notice would use a “not to exceed” amount and broad project language so the court could prioritize projects or scale the issuance depending on market conditions.

The court discussed market‑rate volatility and timing risks; McClainey said interest rates had fluctuated recently and that the county could delay a sale into August if market conditions warranted, but noted the need to close by Aug. 31 if legislative changes take effect. Commissioners voted to authorize staff and the financial adviser to proceed with the future issuance; the court directed staff to prepare a notice‑of‑intent resolution for the May 20 meeting if the court wants to proceed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioners' Court 5-6-2025","oneSentenceSummary","McLennan County commissioners authorized staff and the county’s financial adviser to proceed with planning a certificates of obligation sale of up to $30 million to finance capital needs and to preserve borrowing flexibility if state law changes.","taxTitle","taxId",2712,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6244405,"County hears ARPA water projects update; easement issues threaten one rural arsenic project",779,1697000,2476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3230254-4d6fb700123f060a355fdd9359e1492c&start=1697&end=2476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3230254-4d6fb700123f060a355fdd9359e1492c/thumbnail_1697000.jpg","/articles/6244405/McLennan-County/Texas/County-hears-ARPA-water-projects-update-easement-issues-threaten-one-rural-arsenic-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244405-c3ac1780756bd208dffc2805e2d7f9f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193899&Signature=PjihzDSt4nBPQ1km3jYWSTZh9CuKsLuvX070Ly-AVLeV0tGTWkUmMIqmCFT2I1WTWcdcBHh5-LANbW2mYylgipIIFr3NZP5YzGDyzz46wLTiKyg6oK3~jA2XMfgqavzPouzLsJCCQWcxEKg5iF50Dk6eOpdOkwi3ihK92PlbTspzis~GwisyAUdkfB~cHfit9hGc5hk1DvXhfaErxhAwhsXn5~9fywXjFHAQ4X7QF623TO4zPWyaCh6YOaZhqqe5TCYHAYOWukukoFVqe~WouMgOIq~BH5jnG13dg97Iql60flyBFipN4L~FADLbR0GBofw-EslR8VbCCk~hEVa-aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lockwood, Andrews & Newman presented a quarterly ARPA water‑project update to the McLennan County Commissioners Court on May 6, reporting broad progress on arsenic mitigation and non‑arsenic infrastructure improvements funded with county ARPA allocations.

Consultants said several projects are fully complete or nearing completion. The update noted a federal ARPA requirement that projects and associated funds must be spent and projects completed by Dec. 31, 2026. ‘‘The project needs to be completed,’’ one consultant said, explaining federal rules match expenditures to project completion dates.

Consultants identified one project of particular concern: the LTG arsenic project. The engineer reported that critical landowners are not granting easements on the proposed alignment, and the project team is evaluating rerouting the waterline along alternate easements. The consultant advised that eminent‑domain proceedings would not meet the ARPA deadline and said the county and the project engineer are exploring reroutes or renewed easement negotiations.

Other updates showed work on generators, redundant power and SCADA upgrades at several treatment plants, and additional scope items where unused funds from completed projects were redirected to other needs (tank painting, line upgrades, design costs). Prairie Hill and other projects were reported to be in design or bidding and expected to start construction shortly.

Commissioners voted to accept the report; court members and consultants said they would continue monitoring the LTG right‑of‑way issue closely and meet with the local project engineer to identify next steps and timelines. Consultants said if funds cannot be spent in a timely way on planned projects, the county would look to repurpose unobligated funds to other qualified ARPA water infrastructure needs.","Consultants reported most ARPA‑funded water and arsenic projects in McLennan County are near completion, but easement acquisition problems at one project (LTG) may require rerouting and could jeopardize the federal spending deadline of Dec. 31, 2026.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6244410,"Salvation Army seeks $500,000 from McLennan County for new LaSalle shelter and services campus",605,1055000,1660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3230254-4d6fb700123f060a355fdd9359e1492c&start=1055&end=1660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3230254-4d6fb700123f060a355fdd9359e1492c/thumbnail_1055000.jpg","/articles/6244410/McLennan-County/Texas/Salvation-Army-seeks-500000-from-McLennan-County-for-new-LaSalle-shelter-and-services-campus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244410-845937eb54ed05e7982b715cf1dbd8f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193899&Signature=EIcE-HqSfN-JNI~D1Sb-l-bHCGPpBOlXxvMbhyKB8KR9fsa-o63CGmVvRgNsBsziwu5zIbIAUJYP1CUkn0eLYLxAZoA1-0w32pgu-d3nkpROcp3MgaZE9QXOZlYZeET57POESs7J-9g5BJKAcPfjkxcE5ArfIMrys7q-NsaKgSJoLxuTuVT3TIzshJvhPxogRSXfeqJPOTvFC~TBMoZG1ArlDbfKu5owWeEa7qF6CFqZCptovyZjTB9yPV3phhawfAfpYIUGVh8bsKlgXjh29JZezwzGYs2jY3GwENfa4zi2QU9oRx4fgAiwlgl6QODjD~sOXjbF8VMp~4wKE1f39Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salvation Army asked the McLennan County Commissioners Court on May 6 to consider a $500,000 contribution toward its $21 million Build Hope capital campaign to build a consolidated shelter and services campus at 912 LaSalle in Waco.

The request, presented by Salvation Army leaders and advisory‑board members, said the project would relocate most of the organization’s services from Fourth Street and Webster to a 9‑acre site on LaSalle and include a day center, men's and women's shelters, 15 family apartments and office space. “One veteran who served is worth more than $500,000,” a Salvation Army representative said during the presentation, arguing the county contribution would support veterans and other residents experiencing homelessness.

Court members were not asked to take an immediate funding vote. Salvation Army presenters said they have raised about $19 million so far and that the City of Waco contributed $1 million and handled zoning and flood‑plain work. They told the court the organization has purchased the LaSalle property and must start site work by Sept. 1 to meet national Salvation Army headquarters deadlines and keep pending donations and agreements in place.

Presenters described program elements that would change under the move: the overnight bureau program that previously housed some people released from federal prison would be replaced by GPS‑monitored, community‑based reporting; a day‑reporting program and classes would be housed at the new campus; and the current thrift store on Waco Drive would remain a staffing base. They described the move as intended to reduce downtown overnight housing and free up Fourth Street property for private development while creating a centralized facility offering meals, case management and recovery supports.

County officials asked logistical questions — including the exact LaSalle site (presenters identified 912 LaSalle) and project timing — and said the court would consider the request as part of the FY26 budget process. Judge and commissioners said any commitment would need to be approved during the budget cycle and that a formal approval should appear in the minutes if the county decides to include the request in its adopted budget.

The Salvation Army asked the court to indicate a commitment or make the request part of the court’s budget deliberations so it could provide evidence of local pledges to the organization’s divisional headquarters. No formal county appropriation or motion to allocate funds was recorded at the meeting.","The Salvation Army asked the McLennan County Commissioners Court to consider a $500,000 contribution toward a $21 million Build Hope capital campaign to move and consolidate shelter, day‑reporting and supportive housing services to 912 LaSalle, with a target of beginning site work Sept. 1.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6244395,"County staff lays out FY26 budget calendar; July meetings flagged for heavy review",376,5310000,5686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3230254-4d6fb700123f060a355fdd9359e1492c&start=5310&end=5686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3230254-4d6fb700123f060a355fdd9359e1492c/thumbnail_5310000.jpg","/articles/6244395/McLennan-County/Texas/County-staff-lays-out-FY26-budget-calendar-July-meetings-flagged-for-heavy-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244395-75ad65e0861622869628659143313d22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193899&Signature=VVfNYDMeLF63R7zY6tyykP6XU2ajEV3oVEoQZX6Q4z5FfDd~YkASc~hMBbShf~tuk5GNTDR4lzqqx2bP-XPoEw95Rzw6MsnEnrKpQ5IESTwgR3UCHjhjX2Qxj~kmggTfw7OdFW5nuSDgm-XZYkSpuIQ27w2qZGBf7GcmSc7RL6tngB~v5XZQ0QElXPWdrxdyWLjfkMkYItpvWBf5B1OYQg-U7EV2PAufpuo6dEz8uwka7N9yYMIcjDsP~tEqyKhIfeSvKnWBf9-jXBNpXTZ1ue7b~GuD7Q57D4ngESS3c2sLksD7oTDgKLs8YKPgZhz58l3EJaw0lvUvJzt2huwUdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County finance staff briefed the McLennan County Commissioners Court on the FY26 budget calendar on May 6 and urged commissioners to reserve substantial time for budget review in early and mid‑July.

Staff said department budget requests were due to the auditor’s office the prior week and that preliminary rates and revenue projections would be provided at a later meeting. The schedule presented calls for a big‑picture review on the July 1 court docket with follow‑up sessions through July 7 and the two weeks following, which staff described as “heavy” review periods. Staff asked commissioners to be available for extended meetings during that block to allow department heads time to answer questions and for the court to deliberate proposed changes.

Key procedural dates staff highlighted included a July 29 vote to set the proposed tax rate and the subsequent public‑notice and public‑comment period in August; the court’s goal is to file a proposed budget after the July meetings that allows public review before final adoption. Staff said they will post materials in advance and try to accommodate scheduling conflicts, but recommended commissioners prioritize the July sessions because of the compressed timeline for adopting a tax rate and final budget before the fall deadlines.

No budget decisions were made during the briefing; staff said they would return with preliminary rates and proposals at later meetings and asked departments to be prepared for detailed review sessions in July.","County budget staff presented the FY26 budget calendar and requested department budget submissions; staff urged commissioners to set aside time in early July for intensive budget review and targeted July 29 for the proposed tax rate filing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County authorizes staff to pursue up to $30 million certificates of obligation ahead of possible state limits

County hears ARPA water projects update; easement issues threaten one rural arsenic project

Salvation Army seeks $500,000 from McLennan County for new LaSalle shelter and services campus

County staff lays out FY26 budget calendar; July meetings flagged for heavy review