In his State of the City address at the Round Rock Chamber’s December Power Lunch, Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan provided an update on the City of Round Rock’s recent accomplishments, ongoing projects and goals for the future.

The event was held Dec. 6 at Kalahari Resort and Conventions. Morgan was joined on stage by KVUE Anchor Bryan Mays in a conversation-style presentation.

The conversation highlighted Round Rock’s focus on practical solutions and investments that enhance quality of life. From parks and safety to economic development and infrastructure, the City remains committed to meeting the needs of its growing community while planning for a sustainable future.

Watch the full video below or scroll down to read highlights:

Quality of Life & Downtown

“The city has done really well on its planning, its infrastructure, its quality of life is improved daily, and I just think it’s a place where people want to be.” — Mayor Craig Morgan

• Old Settlers Park Expansion is under active construction thanks to the voter-approved May 2023 G.O. Bond projects. New amenities under development include new fields, tennis and pickleball courts, a two-story recreation center, and expansions to Lakeview Pavilion, Rock’N River Waterpark and the Multipurpose Complex.
• Heritage Trail West has reached significant completion, with its spiral ramp now open for public use, improving trail connectivity from Chisholm Trail Road to Mays Street in Downtown Round Rock.
• Construction on the Lake Creek Trail is ongoing, which will connect Round Rock West to Centennial Plaza.
• Renovations for the Griffith Building in Downtown Round Rock are planned to include a Visitors Center, Arts and Culture gallery, and the Round Rock Chamber.

Public Safety

“We have to continue to invest in our public safety yearly to make sure that they have the tools and the things they need to make sure our city and our citizens feel safe.” — Mayor Craig Morgan

• The City included 10 new police officers and 6 new firefighters in its budget for the current fiscal year.
• Fire Station 1 officially opened earlier this year at 1730 E. Old Settlers Boulevard, and was the first project to be completed from the May 2023 G.O. Bond projects.
• Construction for Fire Station 10 is expected to be under construction in 2025 near Old Settlers Boulevard and Red Bud Lane.
• Design is underway for the Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) Phase II expansion, which will add classroom space and a new driving track to support new training programs for local and regional public safety agencies.

Economic Development

“20 percent of our General Fund comes from the residential properties — that’s it…and a lot of that is because of our commercial development and our business community that help offset that.” — Mayor Craig Morgan

• Earlier this month, the City won a major victory in a case against the Texas Comptroller in the effort to protect local sales tax revenue derived from internet sales. 
• The City signed an extension of the agreement with Dell Technologies in April 2024 from an end date in 2053 to 2099, lengthening the commitment and the corresponding economic benefits of the partnership for an additional 46 years. Since the inception of the agreement with Dell, the City of Round Rock has retained more than $457 million in sales tax revenues for the funding of City services, programs and capital projects.
• Expansions of the Round Rock Sports Center and Multipurpose Complex are in various stages, with the Sports Center actively under construction. These facilities generate significant hotel and sales tax revenue from sports tourism. $558 million was generated in travel spending last year, resulting in $54.3 million in state and local tax revenues from visitors to Round Rock.
• Property tax revenues from commercial businesses, which offset residential property taxes, have allowed Round Rock to maintain one of the lowest property tax rates in Central Texas.

Infrastructure

“If you live on the east side of Round Rock: I hear you, I see you, and we’re going to do it as fast as we can, but it’s going to be a pain. And it’s going to be painful for that side of town. But when we look at [these road projects], we do try to look at thoroughfares to help relieve potential issues.” – Mayor Craig Morgan

• The City of Round Rock is making major headway on projects listed in its Transportation Master Plan to add capacity and connectivity. Transportation projects currently under construction include:
  • Gattis School Road widening from .25 miles west of A.W. Grimes to .2 miles east of Double Creek Drive (known as Segment 3)
  • Wyoming Springs extension from Brightwater Boulevard/Creekbend Boulevard to FM 3406/Old Settler’s Boulevard
• Transportation projects scheduled to break ground in 2025 include:
  • Gattis School Road widening from Via Sonoma Trail to Red Bud Lane (known as Segment 6)
  • Old Settlers Boulevard extension from Red Bud Lane to County Road 110
  • Red Bud Lane North widening from Wal-Mart at U.S. 79 to County Road 117
  • County Road 112 from A.W. Grimes Boulevard to CR 117
  • County Road 112 from CR 117 to CR 110
• Construction is nearly halfway complete on a major five-year project to add water sources through the BCRUA deep water intake at Lake Travis, providing more reliability during drought conditions.
  • By 2027, projects with the BCRUA will increase Round Rock’s water supply by 20 million gallons per day (MGD). Within the next 15-20 years, additional projects through this partnership are planned to expand additional capacity to 40.8 MGD. These projects are designed to meet water needs through 2070.
  • Efforts are underway to identify additional water sources for long-term growth, including groundwater wells from nearby aquifers, purple pipe systems and direct potable reuse, and conservation initiatives.