Conroe could consider first bond election in more than a decade for capital improvements

Published: Wed, 06/07/23

Conroe could consider first bond election in more than a decade for capital improvements

City of Conroe officials discussed the preliminary budget for capital improvement projects for fiscal year 2023-24 at a June 6 budget workshop.
(Cassandra Jenkins/Community Impact)

Community Impact
By Cassandra Jenkins
Updated 5:17 PM Jun 6, 2023 CDT

Officials with the city of Conroe engaged in the first public meeting regarding the operating budget for the capital improvement program for fiscal year 2023-24 at a June 6 budget workshop. Collin Boothe, the city of Conroe’s director of finance, along with multiple department heads and City Council members discussed project needs for future infrastructure projects.

The outlook

According to City Council discussion June 6, city officials are considering calling for a bond election to fund FY 2023-24 capital improvement projects. Citing the high cost of building the Hyatt Regency Conroe and Convention Center that opened in May, council members agreed calling for a bond could be the best way to fund high-priority projects. Voters would weigh in on the bond. City officials said a bond election could be called for November or May, but the idea of a bond election must first be presented to council.

City officials could not provide a date for when the last bond was called but said it has been more than 17 years.

A few projects that could appear on a potential ballot for a bond include:

Water and sewer building expansion: $1.2 million
Police driving track property: $2 million
Fire station at Grand Central Park: $8 million
New senior center: Cost TBD
Performing arts center: Cost TBD

Also in discussion

Besides the idea of calling a bond election for larger projects, City Council and department leaders discussed additional capital improvement projects needed throughout the city. Boothe said project submissions for FY 2023-24 total over $403.5 million. With a similar dollar amount as the ongoing fiscal year, Boothe said the city only approved $127.6 million for CIP projects in FY 2022-23.

Street projects

Street rehab at Lake Conroe Forest Phase 2: $3.7 million
Street rehab for Tanglewood-Briarwood Phase 2: $6.7 million
Downtown alleyway improvements: $500,000
Airport Road extension: $10 million

Parks projects

Aquatic Center improvements: $1.6 million
Parkland acquisition: $5 million
San Jacinto River Trail: $485,000
Senior Center improvements: $2 million

Water projects

Water plant at Moran Ranch: $400,000
Water plant in Northwest Operational Zone: $8 million
Water extension for Old Montgomery Road: $2.2 million
Water well redrilling for plants Nos. 6 & 14: $3.7 each

Next steps

No action was taken at the budget workshop. All projects are still in the discussion phase and can be moved to different fiscal years or killed until a vote is taken in September on the budget.

Regarding a possible bond election, Boothe said there is no timeline as the idea needs to be presented to council. A presentation on the process and use of bond funds is expected to be held during a future Conroe City Council meeting.

The proposed budget will be submitted to City Council on July 20.
A vote will take place for the budget proposal on Sept. 14.

By Cassandra Jenkins - Cassandra joined Community Impact in November 2022. Covering Conroe and Montgomery County, she reports on local government, education, business, transportation and dining. Cassandra graduated from Lamar University in May 2019 where she spent four years at the student-run newspaper as editor in chief. Before joining CI, she spent time at The Port Arthur News, a local, daily newspaper in The Golden Triangle. She also operated as a freelance travel and magazine writer for numerous publications. Outside of the newsroom, she enjoys reading, traveling, being outdoors and photography.

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