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BASTROP — City Council postponed authorizing up to $20 million in Certificates of Obligation needed to restore Old Iron Bridge and fund quality of life projects until the city’s 2024 audit is finished.
Banks require the final audit before issuing bonds, City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino told council members at the Aug. 26 meeting. She said the audit should be completed sometime this month.
“Our audit should have been done a lot earlier in the year,” Carrillo-Trevino said, crediting staff changes in the finance department for the holdup.
Councilwoman Cynthia Meyer was quick to point out the delay is not something the community should worry about. She stressed this is not a sign the projects are in jeopardy.
“This delay does not mean it’s not happening,” Meyer said. “I know you’re super excited about this stuff. This will still all fall in place. It’s just a little thing with numbers here.”
About half of the bond is earmarked for the historic Old Iron Bridge, which closed in 2018 due to safety concerns, according to city documents. Rehabilitation work — already underway with leftover funds from 2018 and 2023 bonds — is expected to cost $10.2 million and includes a concrete deck, steel truss components, railing and decorative lights.
The rest of the bond would cover park and quality of life projects, according to officials.
One proposed project, a par-three golf course, has drawn public scrutiny. Concerned residents have objected the plan in public comment, calling it “elitist” and expressing that the community need for a recreation center is more important.
“You could say it’s frivolous spending — the timeline isn’t right. There’s not a compelling need, no public push or outcry,” resident Cecelia Stern said. “The right thing to do is remove the golf course from the CO. I want the best return on investment — continuing on this path is not fiscally responsible and could result in public action, which is not progress and does not build community.”
Council members pushed back, pointing out the golf course has long been part of the city’s master plan.
“I’m the liaison for the parks and I know there is a par-three golf course in the master plan. This isn’t anything we snuck in,” Meyer said.
Officials said the parks board has discussed the project several times and asked the city manager to begin a feasibility study.
“To say that it was done in the cloak of darkness is probably a significant misstatement,” Carrillo-Trevino said.
COST QUESTIONS
While council members acknowledged the community’s desire for a recreation center, Carrillo-Trevino said the city cannot afford one.
She estimated the smallest acceptable facility would cost at least $40 million, with $1.2 million in yearly upkeep — far beyond the city’s budget if residents want to hold the line on property tax.
“That would move the tax rate from 51 cents to close to 74 cents. And that has an impact of about $663 per year on the property tax rate in today’s numbers,” she said. “And it’s a hard pill today when we are sitting here talking about workforce housing, $663 a year will price some people out of a home. That’s not a scare tactic — that is a reality.”
Carrillo-Trevino said the city collects $6.3 million in property taxes for maintenance and operations, all of which goes to the police department. Other operations are funded through development fees, sales tax and other revenue.
She noted residents are already seeing higher tax bills from other entities, including a new 10-cent rate from Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 3. “We are one of the only cities in Central Texas that is not proposing a tax rate increase,” Carrillo-Trevino said. “And why? Because times are hard for everybody.”
Although Bastrop is seeking authority to issue up to $20 million in bonds, Carrillo-Trevino said the city budgeted for $15 million. The council will have decisions to make on which projects to fund.
The next public hearing and first reading of the 2026 budget and tax rate is set for Sept. 9 at City Hall, 1311 Chestnut St. Council is scheduled to adopt the budget and tax rate Sept. 16, followed by a bond vote Sept. 23.
