County green lights $55.7M in bonds

By Anthony Collins

LPR Editor              ______

     Buckle up, Caldwell County, major road improvements are officially on the way.

     On Tuesday, County Commissioners gave the green light to issue the first round of bonds tied to the $150 million transportation bond package voters approved last November. This initial issuance, clocking in at around $55.7 million, sets the county in motion to begin construction and design work on 22 projects aimed at improving roads, bridges, and those pesky low water crossings.

     “This is a major step forward,” said officials during the Commissioners Court meeting. “We’re ready to move dirt and start delivering the projects voters asked for.”

     The funds come from a newly approved General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025. To back the debt, commissioners also approved an annual property tax increase, a four-cent bump in the county’s Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rate per $100 of property value. That means local homeowners will see a small uptick in their tax bill to help cover the loan’s principal and interest payments.

     The money becomes available July 1, once the bond sale officially closes.

     Alongside the big bond move, the Commissioners Court adopted the Caldwell County Safety Action Plan, a data-driven strategy that targets the county’s most dangerous roads and intersections. The goal? Zero traffic deaths or serious injuries by 2050.

     Between 2019 and 2023, there were 4,293 crashes across the county, resulting in 63 fatalities and 222 serious injuries. The plan zeroes in on eight major road corridors and seven high-risk intersections that were behind 84 of those serious crashes.

     The Safety Action Plan not only sets the groundwork for future improvements but also checks a crucial box: it qualifies the county to apply for federal funding through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. The deadline to apply is June 26, and officials say they’re ready.

     Commissioners handled a full agenda beyond bonds and safety. Here’s a quick roundup:

• Environmental Protocol Approved: Commissioners passed a new Environmental Protocol for county-funded road projects, including those under the 2024 road bond. The guidelines ensure each project meets state and federal environmental laws, aiming to reduce negative impacts on people and the environment.

• Burn Ban Lifted: Good news for grillers and campers, the burn ban is off, at least for now.

• New Subdivision Moves Forward: The final plat was approved for OCLR Acres, a five-lot development spanning just over 10 acres on Old Colony Line Road at FM 86.

• Dress Code Decision Delayed: A vote on new Rules of Procedure, Conduct, and Decorum for Commissioners Court meetings was tabled. The updates would reflect changes to public notice requirements and may introduce new dress code and conduct standards.

• Juneteenth Recognized: Commissioners approved a proclamation honoring June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth — the day Texas officially marked the end of slavery in 1865.

• Catalytic Converter Grant Pursued: The Court also amended a resolution so the county can apply for funding from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority. If awarded, the grant will support local law enforcement’s fight against catalytic converter theft, a crime that continues to spike across Texas.

     With new funding secured, a roadmap to safer streets, and development picking up, Caldwell County’s summer is shaping up to be one of progress, and plenty of orange construction cones.