.png)
City asks for residents’ feedback about next year’s budget
The City of Georgetown is asking the public to share comments on the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget through an online comment box, which will be up through Aug. 20. Members of the public also can attend any of the public hearings through the budget adoption process. Public comments and feedback will be provided to City Council for its Aug. 22 meeting, during which the council is scheduled to hold public hearings and first readings of both the tax rate and the budget.
Residents signed up for FlashVote can also provide feedback on the budget during a survey Aug. 14-16. Sign up for the 1-minute surveys at flashvote.com/georgetowntx to receive surveys by phone, text, or email.
“Having community feedback in the budget process is important,” City Manager David Morgan said. “I hope residents will check out our website to learn more and share their feedback, so we can fund programs and services that meet their needs and priorities. This year the City has also implemented a new budget book software called ClearGov that will make viewing the proposed budget even easier for our residents and customers.”
The City of Georgetown budget affects every resident in the city. How the City allocates taxpayer dollars and monthly costs as utility customers determines the level of service customers get in return for City functions, such as providing electricity, drinking water, resources to respond to emergencies, well-maintained streets, a world-class library, and accessible trails.
The proposed budget totals $861 million and keeps the City’s property tax rate at 37.4 cents per $100 valuation. The proposed rate is below the voter-approval rate set by the state and can only increase by 3.5 percent on the operations and maintenance portion of the tax rate.
The City’s rate is among the lowest of all cities in the Austin area with a population greater than 20,000. By keeping the rate at 37.4 cents per $100 of valuation, the average property tax bill is expected to increase by $125.
Following solid waste and water and wastewater rate studies, Georgetown residents and customers can expect solid waste, water, and wastewater rates to increase, as well. The budget includes a proposed solid waste rate increase of 4.5 percent for residential customers, or about $0.98 per month, and 9.5 percent for commercial users. Water and wastewater rates are projected to increase 13 percent for all customer types, or approximately $6 a month for a family using 6,000 gallons of water per month.
“The U.S. Census named Georgetown the fastest-growing city in the country for the second year in a row,” Morgan said. “With that growth comes increasing demands and expectations for our services and staff. Our primary focus for next year’s budget is maintaining those service levels while responding to growth and development pressures—particularly building infrastructure needed to keep pace with growth.”
City staff used council goals to develop a preliminary version of next year’s budget, which the council discussed during a July 11 workshop. Staff used council direction from the workshop to develop the proposed budget. The City’s fiscal year spans Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024.
Major themes of the proposed budget are investments in transportation and utility infrastructure, public safety, and customer services. Adequately funding those priorities—particularly building the infrastructure needed to keep pace with growth, responding to development pressures, and retaining and recruiting high-caliber employees—contributed to the proposed budget being $139 million more than the current fiscal year’s adopted budget of $722 million. Of this increase, $53 million can be attributed to the growth in the City’s FY2024 capital improvement program over the previous year.
For more information about the annual budget process and details and documents about the proposed FY2024 budget, visit finance.georgetown.org.
Budget adoption timeline
July 11: Council budget workshops
Aug. 8: First presentation of the full budget; City Council sets maximum tax rate and public hearing dates
Aug. 20: Comments on draft budget close (see form online)
Aug. 22: Public hearings and first reading of both the tax rate and the budget
Sept. 12: Second reading and final adoption of the tax rate and budget
Oct. 1: New budget year begins, and new water/wastewater rates are in effect
Street resurfacing work starts
Street resurfacing projects, including a high-performance surface sealant treatment and hot-in-place recycling, will be completed this summer and fall with work starting Aug. 7.
The work schedule can be affected by weather conditions, mechanical issues, and product availability. For updates on the paving schedule and a complete list of projects, visit https://transportation.georgetown.org/2023-street-maintenance-projects/.
Streets are selected for resurfacing treatments based on the Pavement Condition Index study that grades roadway surface conditions and recommends treatments based on road conditions and traffic volumes. The last study was completed in 2018. A new study will be completed later this year.
The City is using two types of street resurfacing products:
Hot-in-place recycling
Hot-in-place recycling is an alternative to mill and asphalt overlay in which existing pavement is heated, removed, ground, and mixed with new material to create a new asphalt surface. This process is completed in a single pass with multiple machines in line to decrease the street closure timeline.
Streets in the Pecan Branch North, North College Street, Williams Addition, San Gabriel Heights, and River Ridge neighborhoods are scheduled for repaving this summer and fall. The schedule will be updated on this page and via Nextdoor and flyers will be placed on doors as work is scheduled.
Work in the Pecan Branch North neighborhood started on Aug. 7.
Streets will not be closed during hot-in-place repaving; however, drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to choose alternate routes. Flaggers will be present to assist drivers.
High-performance surface seal
As part of this surface treatment, a sealant is applied to the surface of the roadway, reducing damage from UV radiation, water, and vehicle traffic. Street sealant work is planned for streets in Thousand Oaks, River Bend, Sun City, Westhaven, LaConterra, and Pinnacle neighborhoods this summer and fall.
Sealant work will start on Aug. 16. The schedule will be updated on our website and via Nextdoor and flyers will be placed on doors as work is scheduled.
On the day work is scheduled, the streets will be closed to traffic for 24 hours. Streets will be blocked off at 8 a.m. and will be reopened the following day at 8 a.m.
For questions about street maintenance projects, contact customercare@georgetown.org.
Georgetown lifeguards help test new American Red Cross training tool
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department was selected as one of only two cities in the U.S. to participate in beta testing for the American Red Cross’s new Lifeguard VR Training App in early 2023.
Virtual reality technology addresses the challenges of drowning prevention and revolutionizes how lifeguards practice surveillance, delivering a more engaging and effective learning experience. Lifeguard VR reinforces skills taught in the classroom and improves learning outcomes.
“The City of Georgetown aquatics staff is extremely proud we were chosen to help beta test such an important technological tool that will be rolled out to lifeguards throughout the country,” Georgetown Aquatics Supervisor Charles Logan said. “Scanning and victim recognition are the most important jobs of a lifeguard, and the VR tool has been an invaluable addition to our staff training.”
In May, the American Red Cross won two Webby awards in the Science & Education Metaverse, Immersive, and Visual category; and a Silver Edison Award honoring the best in innovation.
Lifeguard VR is currently under development and is expected to be released later this year.
I-35 mainlanes to close for Williams Drive bridge deck pour
At 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 28-29, the northbound and southbound I-35 mainlanes will close to traffic between Lakeway Drive and Hwy. 29. Northbound I-35 traffic will detour to the frontage road at the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes north of Northwest Boulevard. Southbound I-35 traffic will use the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes at the Hwy. 29 entrance ramp.
The Williams Drive bridge will also be closed. Eastbound traffic will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road and use the U-turn at Hwy. 29 to access Williams Drive. Westbound traffic will detour to the northbound I-35 frontage road before turning left at the signalized intersection at Lakeway Drive to access Williams Drive.
See the detour map for more details. All lanes will reopen to traffic by 10 a.m. each morning, weather permitting.
The I-35 at Williams Drive project is expected to be complete by late 2023, weather permitting.
To learn more about this project and the Mobility35 Program, visit My35Construction.org.
Kittens in the Library on Aug. 10
The popular event Kittens in the Library returns Aug. 10 to the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
Kittens from the Georgetown Animal Shelter will turn up the charm to play, snuggle and purr their way into a new family. Kittens will be available for adoption from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Adoption fees are $35 per kitten during the event and will be able to leave directly from the event. Cardboard carriers will be provided.
The shelter is the municipal animal shelter for the city and takes in all stray and surrendered animals from within the city limits. Even as the city grows exponentially, the shelter has maintained a save rate of 90 percent or more for the past eight years, classifying the shelter as a no-kill shelter.
The animal shelter currently has many kittens and cats, and staff hopes the event at the library will help them find new homes. The Georgetown Animal Shelter is located at 110 W.L. Walden Drive. For more information about the shelter, visit pets.georgetown.org.
Georgetown Arts and Culture Board awards grants for 2023 Round II
The Georgetown Arts and Culture Board approved $14,944 in grants in July to local arts and culture organizations to help with funding local arts and culture programming that includes orchestra performances, theatre performances, and a cultural festival in Georgetown.
The funding is for events in Georgetown taking place between Oct. 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
Grant recipients include:
| Project or event name | Grant amount |
| Central Texas Philharmonic, Inc for the Field of Honor – Patriotic Pops Concert | $5,000 |
| GTX Connect for Fiesta Georgetown 2023 | $3,750 |
| The Georgetown Palace Theatre, Inc for the 2023-24 Season Performances for All Ages | $3,000 |
|
Williamson County Symphony Orchestra 2 Free Orchestra Concerts in Georgetown |
$2,000 |
|
Central Texas Musical Arts for the Bluebonnet Philharmonic Orchestra Holiday Concert in Georgetown |
$1,194 |
The next grant cycle will accept proposals Dec. 1-31, 2023, for events and programs occurring April 1-Sept. 30, 2024.
The Georgetown Arts and Culture grants help the Arts and Culture Board fulfill bylaw requirements, which include recognizing and encouraging groups and organizations that enrich Georgetown life by bringing cultural and artistic values and artifacts to the City. Members of the Arts and Culture Board believe a vibrant arts community and cultural offerings are good for the quality of life for residents, will attract visitors, and will assist Georgetown in becoming a nationally recognized arts destination by 2030. The grant program helps develop and strengthen our local arts community by contributing funding to arts and culture programming that enhances our local community.
For more information about the Georgetown Arts and Culture grants, visit arts.georgetown.org.
Georgetown expands outage texting service to water customers
Beginning Aug. 1, Georgetown water utility customers will receive a text message letting them know they are now enrolled in the City’s real-time, water outage texting service.
Once launched, enrolled customers will be able to receive real-time updates via text message to and from 512-930-3640. Water outages must still be reported by phone by calling 512-930-3640 and pressing 1. The City’s phone system will recognize the number if it’s tied to the utility account.
Customers should still track water and electric outages on the City’s online outage maps and only report outages not already reflected on the maps. The City will text customers about water outages, and customers can send text messages to the system to learn about status updates.
“We are proud to expand our outage texting service to our water customers,” City Manager David Morgan said. “Providing real-time updates to our utility customers is critical to ensuring our residents have the information they need to remain safe, and we know our customers are looking forward to having a more automated process to learn updates about outages.”
The City will automatically sign-up residents using the phone number(s) associated with their utility account(s). Customers will also be able to enroll by texting WATER to 512-930-3640.
The City launched TextPower to its electric customers in April 2023. Unlike the water texting service, electric utility customers can report outages via text to 512-930-8400. Read more about the electric services here.
TextPower serves 175+ utilities providing text messaging (SMS) solutions for mission-critical applications for immediate communications with customers via their trademarked SmartAlerts platform.
Gather Round Georgetown Project Expo provides feedback, learning opportunities for multiple City projects, plans
The City of Georgetown is hosting the Gather Round Georgetown Project Expo on Aug. 3 to give residents and business owners the chance to help shape our community’s future, as well as to share what you love about Georgetown, ideas, and concerns.
Bring your family from 6-8 p.m. to City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St., to learn more and provide feedback on various projects and plans currently under development in the City.
Learn more about:
- Austin Avenue Corridor Study
- on the Transportation website
- Austin Avenue Pedestrian Bridges
- Williams Drive Enhancement Study
Provide feedback on these projects:
- Downtown Master Plan
- Future Mobility Plan and Sidewalk Master Plan
- Mobility Bond Projects
- Hwy. 29-east and west
- Rockride Lane
- FM 971
- SE Inner Loop
- Unified Development Code Update
During the event, City leadership, staff, and project managers will be available to take feedback and answer questions.
“The project expo is a collaborative effort between the City and our residents,” City Manager David Morgan said. “We want to work hand-in-hand with everyone in the community to create a Georgetown that meets the needs and aspirations of all of our residents. By participating in our project expo, you become an essential part of building a better future for Georgetown.”
Feedback gathered during the event will be used to help inform decisions about the future of Georgetown land use, transportation, and downtown.
The event will also include food trucks, as well as free ice cream for those who participate in the expo.
The City’s Public Works Department will display some heavy equipment for construction and maintenance projects.
The event is open to residents of all ages, and Spanish interpretation and materials will also be available.
For more information, visit georgetown.org/gather-round-georgetown.
Mosquito trap tests positive for West Nile virus in Georgetown
A mosquito trap sample collected in the City of Georgetown has tested positive for West Nile virus. This testing is part of Williamson County and Cities Health District’s Integrated Vector Management program. The positive test was indicated in lab results received on June 29 from the Texas Department of State Health Services lab in Austin.
The positive sample was collected from a trap site near Blue Hole Park, 100 Blue Hole Park Road. This is the first time a positive sample was collected from this location.
This is the fourth reported West Nile virus positive trap in Williamson County in five weeks of the 2023 season. Positive mosquito samples have been previously detected in Georgetown (Geneva Park) and Jarrell (Sonterra Community).
“As we near the July 4th holiday and enjoy outdoor activities (especially at dusk when the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are most active), I encourage everyone to use an EPA-approved insect repellent if spending time outdoors, empty wading pools when not in use, and ensure permanent pools are properly maintained and chlorinated,” Jason Fritz, integrated vector management program lead, said. “While we cannot predict if West Nile virus activity will continue at this rate, following the simple precautions to protect yourself and reduce breeding conditions will help the community.”
Mosquitoes are present in Central Texas year-round, but the population is largest and most active from May through November. During this period, WCCHD monitors the mosquito population and tests for mosquito-borne viruses.
Symptoms of infection may include fever, headache, and body aches, a skin rash on the trunk of the body, and swollen lymph nodes. Those age 50 and older and/or with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk for severe symptoms, which may include stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis, and in rare cases, death.
The most important way to prevent West Nile virus is to reduce the number of mosquitoes where people live, work, and play. Health officials strongly encourage everyone to remain vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites and preventing mosquito breeding on their personal property. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, needing as little as one teaspoon. By draining all sources of standing water in and around your property, you reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed.
What you can do:
Eliminating places where mosquitoes can breed and reducing the chances of mosquito bites are the most effective lines of defense against exposure to West Nile Virus. As part of its Fight the Bite campaign the Health District recommends the 3 Ds of mosquito safety:
- Drain standing water in flowerpots, pet dishes, or clogged gutters so mosquitoes don’t have a place to breed and treat water that can’t be drained,
- Defend by using an EPA-registered insect repellent, and
- Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
For more information, go to the WCCHD website at www.wcchd.org or visit the Texas Department of State Health Services West Nile website at txwestnile.org.
South San Gabriel Trail expansion opened June 22
A new section of the South San Gabriel Trail, connecting University Avenue to the Wolf Ranch subdivision, opened June 22.
The 0.7-mile trail was designed by Halff and Associates and constructed by Lone Star Site Works. The construction cost for the project was $1.2 million and was paid for by the 2008 voter-approved parks bond.
