General Information Regarding Parks and Recreation Bonds
State law authorizes MUDs located in Williamson County to issue bonds to pay for the development and maintenance of certain parks and recreation facilities if the bonds are authorized by the voters in an election. At the May 2021 and 2024 elections, Sonterra MUD’s residents approved two parks and recreation bond propositions authorizing a total of $70,000,000 in bonds for parks and recreation purposes. Of this $70,000,000, only $3,280,000 of bonds has actually been issued to date, in order to purchase various existing parks and recreation facilities constructed by the developer of Sonterra.
Sonterra MUD plans to issue additional series of bonds under the remainder of the authorized amount over the coming years to build additional parks and recreation facilities. However, there are various rules and limitations that the MUD must comply with. For instance, a MUD cannot issue bonds that exceed 1% of the total assessed property value in the MUD, or in Sonterra MUD’s case 3%, due to qualifying for an exception. Additionally, there are specific items that may and may not be purchased using bond funds.
· Items that may be purchased with bond funds:
o Land for parks and recreation, including forest, greenbelts, open spaces, and native habitat.
o Sidewalks, trails, paths, boardwalks, and fitness trail equipment.
o Pedestrian bridges/underpasses.
o Outdoor sports fields and associated scoreboards and bleachers, which must be designed for less than 500 people.
o Parks, including outdoor playground facilities and associated ground surface material, picnic tables, benches, barbeque grills, fire pits, fireplaces, trash receptacles, drinking water fountains, pavilions/gazebos, amphitheaters/assembly facilities, shade structures, restrooms and changing rooms, concession stands, water playgrounds, recreational equipment storage facilities, and emergency call boxes. Pavilions, gazebos, amphitheaters, assembly facilities, and shade structures must be open‑air. Amphitheaters and assembly facilities must be designed for less than 500 people.
o Amenity lakes and associated land, water features, docks, piers, overlooks, and non‑motorized boat launches.
o Recreation/amenity centers.
o Outdoor tennis and basketball courts.
o Fencing located along streets, which must be no taller than eight feet.
o Lighting.
o Informational park signs and kiosks.
o Splash pads or “water playgrounds”.
o Parking for parks and recreational facilities.
· Items that may not by purchased with bond funds, but may be funded through another source:
o Indoor or outdoor swimming pools, pool decks, and associated equipment or storage facilities.
o Golf courses, clubhouses, and related structures or facilities.
o Air conditioned buildings, gymnasiums, spas, fitness centers, and habitable structures other than those explicitly mentioned above (e.g., recreation/amenity centers).
o Sound barrier walls.
o Retaining walls used for roadway purposes.
o Signs and monuments, such as for subdivisions and developments, which are not related to MUD facilities.
The MUD has the discretion to construct the items included in the MUD’s Park Plan, to construct other items, or not to construct any items. In order to inform its decisions, the Board of Directors encourages residents to provide input regarding the use of bonds for parks and recreation during the public comment portion of its regular meetings.
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