Rockwall Voices Op-Ed
Rockwall County Commissioner John Stacy Addresses Road Funding, Project Delivery, and the County’s Transportation Priorities
Rockwall County Commissioner John Stacy, Precinct 4, issued the following statement regarding the county’s road needs, the release of transportation bond funds, and ongoing efforts to move major roadway projects from planning to construction.
I am John Stacy, Rockwall County Commissioner for Precinct 4. As I complete my first term and prepare to begin my next term in January, I want to address the status of roads in Rockwall County. I do not speak on behalf of the Rockwall County Commissioners Court, but I believe it is important to share my perspective on the county’s transportation needs and the work currently underway.
No commissioner has stated that the roads are great and that we do not need to do any more work on them. It is quite the opposite. This Court voted unanimously to release $50 million in road bond money to advance the design of roadways throughout the county and fund the completion of construction on several projects. This is not a Court sitting idle and not working on roads.
A very important point that is often misunderstood is the mechanics of the road bond. Until the county takes money out of the bond and issues the debt, there is no effect on taxes or payments due. In 2021, voters approved the bonds, but until the Court issues the debt, there are no payments or tax rate implications from that vote.
The reason it took so long to issue the debt is that there was still money from the 2004 and 2008 road bonds that could be used. Now that the old money has been allocated, the Commissioners Court approved issuing $50 million for road projects in January. The increased debt payment is part of the new county budget.
One of the most important things to understand about roads is that the county voted to change transportation consultants. In the last 22 years, 15.2 miles of lanes have been added in Rockwall County, excluding Interstate 30. That is simply a failure of an executed plan. Roads like SH 276 and SH 66 were included in road bonds as far back as 2008, and those roads are still not under construction.
None of the current commissioners were on the Court until 2023. We have worked hard to take the 2021 bond and reimagine it into a bond that can get roads built rather than just designed. Changing the transportation consultant the county had used for 22 years was critical to better serving our citizens. We are here now because of decades of not focusing on the roads our citizens drive on the most.
When it comes to roads in Rockwall County, residents need projects built, not just discussed. With a Court focused on construction, execution, and accountability, and with a new road consulting firm that has a record of delivering results, I believe Rockwall County can make meaningful progress on these long-standing infrastructure needs.
These issues developed over many years, and the results will take time. The good news is that residents have public servants who are committed to making transportation a top priority while balancing the many other needs of the county.
For more information, contact Commissioner John Stacy, Precinct 4, at 972-204-6040 (office) or 469-939-2067 (cell), or by email at jstacy@rockwallcountytexas.com.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of The Rockwall Times. We encourage a respectful exchange of perspectives to enrich our community dialogue.
