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Bee Cave orders Nov. 4 special election and $19.98 million bond proposition for new library on Skaggs property
Summary
The City of Bee Cave ordered a Nov. 4 special election on building a new public library on the 21.067-acre Skaggs property and approved calling a bond election authorizing up to $19,980,000 in general‑obligation bonds to fund construction, site development and parking; council set outreach and an estimated tax impact for voter materials.
Bee Cave City Council voted Aug. 12 to send two library measures to voters: an order for a Nov. 4 special election on whether the city may construct a new public library on the 21.067‑acre Skaggs property, and a separate bond proposition authorizing up to $19,980,000 in general‑obligation bonds to pay for the building, site development and parking.
City staff said the ballot language will read that the city be allowed to construct a new public library located generally on the 21.067 acres identified by Travis Central Appraisal District as property ID 873771 (known locally as the Skaggs property) “for the purpose of providing library services to the public.” Staff estimated the election cost at about $40,000 and warned council that the deadline to order the election and finalize ballot language is Aug. 18.
Bond counsel Julie Houston and financial advisor Jennifer Ritter explained the bond ordinance (Proposition B) before council. The ordinance authorizes issuance of up to $19,980,000 in general‑obligation bonds and permits the imposition of taxes sufficient to pay principal and interest. Ritter said the ordinance allows flexibility on term lengths (up to 30 years) to respond to market conditions; she added the city would likely sell bonds in early 2026 and then monitor options to refinance or prepay to achieve savings when market conditions allow.
Staff offered a conservative estimated tax‑rate impact of 0.0148 and provided an example of $14.80 in annual taxes for each $100,000 of assessed value as an informational figure for voters’ materials. Finance staff said they expect to use a combination of sales‑tax surplus and limited ad valorem taxation to minimize impacts on household tax bills.
Council also reviewed preliminary design programming from Lake|Flato and the CIP subcommittee showing a reduced building program of about 18,500 square feet placed on the Skaggs site; staff said Lake|Flato will complete schematic drawings in September and that the city plans open houses in September and October to inform voters.
Council approved both the ordinance ordering the special election (Ordinance 575) and the ordinance calling the bond election (Ordinance 576) unanimously. Staff said materials and outreach will follow and that ballot language and voter information will be posted at the city website.
