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Williamson County committees split over $17.85 million bond to pursue ‘Hill’ courthouse site
Summary
At a Feb. 26 joint meeting of Williamson County’s budget and law enforcement committees, the budget side voted to advance a not-to-exceed $17,850,000 bond authorization for a proposed courthouse site on Columbia Avenue while the law enforcement committee opposed it; commissioners raised concerns about valuation, financing and timing.
The budget committee on Feb. 26 voted to advance an initial resolution to publish notice for a not-to-exceed $17,850,000 general obligation bond to buy a parcel known locally as the “Hill” property on Columbia Avenue as a potential courthouse site, while the law enforcement committee signaled opposition.
The initial resolution (2-26-7) is procedural: county staff told commissioners it is meant to authorize publication of notice required to start the process and does not itself obligate the county to buy the land. An unnamed county official described the owner as willing to sell and said judges had identified the site as a candidate. “Phoebe needs this in order to advertise it,” the official said.
Supporters said the site would accommodate long‑term judicial needs. Staff and counsel explained a contract is conditioned on the county commission’s approval and on satisfactory due diligence; the due‑diligence period discussed at the meeting was 120 days. Counsel said if the commission rejects a contract there is no sale and no bond issuance tied to it.
Several commissioners pressed for more up‑to‑date valuation data before final approval. “Do we do comps on this and compare property values?” asked Commissioner Petty, who also expressed concern about how the county would pay for the project and whether bond debt might conflict with other near‑term capital needs. Commissioners asked staff to circulate recent appraisals and comparables; a commissioner said Jim Cross would provide a 2024 appraisal to circulate before the county commission meeting.
On the companion resolution that would authorize the issuance of the bonds and the levy of taxes to pay debt service (2-26-8), the budget committee also voted in favor at the committee level, while the law enforcement committee recorded a unanimous nay, leaving the two committees split. County counsel noted committee recommendations will be reported to the full county commission, which will take the next formal vote.
Next steps: staff said the publication authorized by the initial resolution starts a 20‑day clock during which a petition by 10% of registered voters could force a referendum; commissioners were told that a petition threshold equals 10% of registered voters, not total population. The committee was told the due‑diligence period would likely expire in April, so approval would need to occur at the March commission meeting or at a special meeting in April.
No final county‑commission action was taken at the joint committee meeting. The matter will be reported to the full Williamson County Commission for further consideration and any formal vote.
