DALLAS -- Travis County, Texas, will wait another year before seeking voter approval of a $300 million bond proposal for a new civil and family courthouse in downtown Austin.
County commissioners voted Jan. 21 to plan for a 2015 vote instead of holding the election Nov 4.
The Nov. 4 ballot will include statewide voting on the races for Texas governor and U.S. Senate, along with a $1.2 billion transportation funding measure. Austin Community College District is also asking voters for almost $500 million of general obligation bonds, and the city of Austin is expected to seek voter approval of bonds for an urban rail starter line.
The county is planning to build the courts building at the site of a surface parking lot adjacent to Republic Square Park, a popular gathering spot in the heart of the city, and include underground parking.
The underground parking is expected to increase the cost per space by about $3,500, according to the architectural consultant URS Corp.
Commissioners are also considering using a "green roof," so called because it includes plants designed to reduce environmental impact. Austin's City Hall was used as an example such a project in URS's presentation.
Commissioners voted last year to build the courthouse using a design-build concept.
The county would finance 60% of the project with the bond proceeds under the current plan. The proposal calls for a 17-story structure with at least 500,000 square feet.
Travis County's $656 million of outstanding debt is rated triple-A by Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's.
