Lago Vista Watchdog

AI driven. Human validated. Independent.

Parks

Lago Vista's $23.5M bond put parks first, no park project yet

Lago Vista's 2024 bond listed city parks first. City tracking puts the money into streets, effluent ponds, golf irrigation, and repairs, and none into a park.

By the Watchdog deskValidatedValidated by Jack Britton, November 6, 2026

Correction, October 16, 2026. An earlier version of this story said the person leading the Oct. 14 meeting called the bond spending "a good question to follow up on," and that Mark Douglas said nearly all of the money "has been encumbered." The city's timed transcript does not show who spoke either line, so the story no longer names those speakers. This version also adds that the ordinance's water and wastewater use includes "effluent dispersal irrigation" and that the city has called the golf course an effluent application site, and it links our earlier golf course fund story.

Correction, October 16, 2026. An earlier version of this story's summary said a parks committee member found about $700,000 spent on parks out of the $23.5 million. He said about $700,000 had been spent on park construction and improvement, all from the General Fund and none from the 2024 certificates. The summary has been clarified. No figures changed.

On Jan. 18, 2024, Lago Vista's City Council voted unanimously to borrow $23,465,000 through certificates of obligation.12 The ordinance lists city parks first among the uses.2 The city's own tracking of that money now assigns $22,624,638 to four projects, and none of them is a park project.3 The debt carries 3% to 5% interest until 2049.4 A property tax backs it.5

Listen

AI voices

A two-host briefing. The voices are AI generated. Read the transcript.

An empty swing hangs from a weathered swing set in a dry park at sunset, with stacked blue water pipes, a mound of asphalt, and coiled black tubing behind a fence. AI illustration.
AI illustration. Image credits.

The four are Street Rehab at $12,000,000, Effluent Ponds at $6,135,000, Lago Vista Golf Course (LVGC) Irrigation at $4,095,000, and Cedar Breaks Repairs at $394,638.01.6 The ordinance's water and wastewater use includes "effluent dispersal irrigation."2 The city's 2015-16 budget called the golf course "an effluent application site necessary as part of the City's wastewater treatment program."7 The current capital plan lists "Effluent Pond Improvements & Rehabilitation" and "LVGC Irrigation System Replacement" under "UTILITIES."8 About $2.3 million is not currently required for any listed project.6 A disclaimer says the amounts "have not been independently reconciled or validated by the Finance Department."3

On Oct. 14, 2026, parks committee member Mark Douglas said he could find only about $700,000 spent constructing, improving, or renovating city parks since 2025.910 The records show all of it came from the city's General Fund, and none from the 2024 debt.31112

Sums in this story are our calculations from the cited records. Every other figure comes from the records we cite.

What a certificate of obligation is

The council can issue certificates of obligation, a kind of city debt, without an election unless voters petition for one. The council first had the city secretary "give notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation." The ordinance says no one filed a petition "protesting the issuance of such certificates of obligation and requesting an election." The ordinance's title says it is "levying an ad valorem tax and pledging certain surplus revenues in support of the certificates."13

In 2025, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) studied the city's Parks Master Plan and created a report with "specific recommendations for council discussion and consideration."14 Its Oct. 14 agenda included a discussion of "funds used for Parks from the 2024 CO Bond."15

Earlier coverage

Our story on Lago Vista's debt explained how these certificates raised the city's debt and when they will be paid off. Our story on the golf course fund covered the irrigation rebuild, from the council's vote to pursue a certificate of obligation to the Diamond Golf contract these certificates now pay for. Our story on the tree fund showed that this year's park projects rely on tree removal fees. This story looks at where the money has gone.

Oct. 19, 2023, the council sets the uses

On Oct. 19, 2023, the council took up Resolution 23-2019, "authorizing proceeding with the issuance" of certificates of obligation. Councilor Prince moved, and Councilor Sullivan seconded. The vote was unanimous, with a limit of $26 million.16

The motion also removed the words "to include the municipally owned golf course and swimming pool" from the resolution. The minutes do not give a reason for that change.16 The notice that followed listed five uses, and none of them names the golf course or the pool. They were city parks, then streets, then the water and wastewater system "to include effluent dispersal irrigation," then police radios, then professional fees. The notice ran in the Hill Country News on Nov. 2 and Nov. 9, 2023.5

Jan. 18, 2024, the council approves $23,465,000

On Jan. 18, 2024, Councilor Durbin moved to approve Ordinance 24-01-18-01, and Councilor Marion seconded. The minutes say the council voted "unanimously to approve Ordinance 24-01-18-01 as presented."1 Section 1 authorizes certificates "in the aggregate principal amount of $23,465,000." That is about $23.5 million. It lists the uses starting with "(i) constructing, improving, and/or renovating City parks." The ordinance does not say how much should go to each use.2

2024 to 2026, where the money went

A June 2025 council item listed PRAC's recommendation to "Increase budget priority from what Parks has been given over the past several years."14

The parks section of the 2025-26 capital plan lists one project, "PK-1 Sunset Park East Driveway Entrance."17 Its funding source is listed as "General Fund Reserve." The plan put the actual construction cost at $500,100.18

The city's audit for the year ended Sept. 30, 2025, shows the Capital Projects Fund spent $6,702,461 on capital outlay. No projects are named behind that figure.19

The 2024 certificate of obligation funding position in the 2026-27 budget lists "CO Spent to Date" of $11,899,919.12. It lists "Outstanding CO Contract Commitments" of $5,212,871.14.6

A $3,615,632.23 contract with Diamond Golf for "LVGC Irrigation Construction" is paid from the 2024 certificates.20 The budget describes the irrigation work as the "completion of the Lago Vista Golf Course irrigation system."21

The funding position lists $2,295,715.68 as "Potentially Unprogrammed / Available." The pages say that money is "not currently required for those identified project needs." Past wastewater plant spending and the parts of the $25.53 million starting balance "should be confirmed with Finance before any reallocation decision."6

Oct. 14, 2026, the parks committee asks

PRAC's agenda set its meeting for Oct. 14, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 5803 Thunderbird.15 The person leading the meeting said, "We do not have a quorum, so we are, this is an informational meeting." The leader added there would be "no voting action."22

Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting, Oct. 14, 2026, from 0:00 to 0:19 in the city's video. Trimmed only at the start and end. Watch the full meeting from this moment. Video credits.

At the roll call, the leader said, "Mark Douglas and myself."22 Later, the leader said the bond item "was one Mark brought up" and said, "So Mark, if you wanna address" it.23 The agenda lists Douglas as a committee member.15

Douglas said he would read the ordinance "literally word for word." He said it "was important enough" that "city parks was listed first."24

Another person said that, starting on page 158 of the budget's PDF version, there was "a summary of where the 24CO" stood. "I don't see anything park specific there, to be honest," someone said.25

Douglas then read park spending from his notes on the budget. For Sunset Park, he cited "223" in 2025 and "the 314K" in 2026. He named $40,000 over two years for the Turnback trails and $25,000 for pocket parks in 2025. He also named $95,000 to resurface the pickleball court this year.10

"So out of a grand total of 23 and a half million dollars, I can only come up with about $700,000 that have actually been spent on" what he called "constructing, improving, or renovating city parks." He said he questioned "how important are parks to the city."9

Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting, Oct. 14, 2026, from 1:56:51 to 1:57:18 in the city's video. Trimmed only at the start and end. Watch the full meeting from this moment. Video credits.

Near the end of the item, a speaker said, "I think all but about two, two and a half million dollars has been encumbered."26

What the records show about park spending

None of the park lines he named appears among the 2024 certificate projects.3 The General Fund parks page lists Sunset Park spending of $223,108 as the fiscal year (FY) 2025 actual and $314,304 as the FY 2026 actual. The same page lists the Turnback trails at $38,750 as the FY 2025 actual and $1,260 as the FY 2026 actual. Pocket parks got $25,000 in the FY 2025 actual column.11

The 2026-27 budget lists the pickleball court resurfacing as a $95,000 General Fund item.12 The Parkland Fee Fund page lists a $95,000 "TRANSFER TO GENERAL FUND" in the FY 2027 approved column.27 Together, those six amounts add up to $697,422.1112 That is close to the "about $700,000" he gave.9 That supports his point that the park work came from the regular budget, not the 2024 certificates.31112

What it could mean for taxpayers

The 2024 certificates carry 3% to 5% interest and run until 2049.4 The ordinance levies a property tax to support them.5

That leaves about $2.3 million of the 2024 money not currently required for the listed projects.6 The ordinance's uses include "constructing, improving, and/or renovating City parks."2

Where it stands

PRAC took no votes at the meeting.22 Someone at the meeting called the bond question "a good question to follow up on."28

What we could not find

  • A ledger from the Finance Department that shows how the 2024 money was spent, because the tracking pages say Finance has not validated them.3
  • Any split of the $23,465,000 among the five uses, because the ordinance does not give one.2
  • A council vote that decided no 2024 money would go to parks.3 The capital plan in the adopted 2026-27 budget lists 2024 certificate money only for street and utility projects.8
  • A plan for the $2,295,715.68 the tracking pages call potentially unprogrammed.6

What you can do

  • Ask the city for the Finance Department's ledger of 2024 certificate spending, by project, with invoices.3
  • Ask the city how much of the $23,465,000 it planned for each of the five uses when it borrowed the money.2
  • Ask the council what it plans for the $2,295,715.68 still open, and whether parks will be considered.6
  • Watch the Oct. 14 PRAC meeting yourself.23

If you have records on this, you can share them with us at /share-records. We protect your identity and publish the evidence when we can do so safely.

Podcast transcript

Read the transcript

Host 1. Welcome to the Lago Vista Watchdog. These voices are AI generated, and every fact comes from a public record.

Host 2. Today's story is about the 23,465,000 dollars the city borrowed in 2024, and how much of it has gone to parks.

Host 1. Here is the bottom line. On January 18, 2024, the council voted unanimously to borrow 23,465,000 dollars, and its ordinance lists city parks first among the uses for that money. But according to the city's own tracking pages in the 2026-27 budget, 22,624,638 dollars is assigned to four projects, and none of them is a park project.

Host 2. Those four are twelve million dollars for street rehab, 6,135,000 dollars for effluent ponds, 4,095,000 dollars for golf course irrigation, and 394,638 dollars for Cedar Breaks repairs.

Host 1. The ordinance's water and wastewater use includes effluent dispersal irrigation. The city's 2015-16 budget called the golf course an effluent application site for its wastewater treatment program. And the capital plan lists the pond and irrigation projects under utilities.

Host 2. About 2.3 million dollars is not currently required for any listed project. One caution. A disclaimer says the tracking amounts have not been independently reconciled or validated by the Finance Department.

Host 1. The debt carries 3 to 5 percent interest until the year 2049. A property tax backs it.

Host 1. Let's catch people up. The money came from certificates of obligation. That is a kind of city debt the council can issue without an election, unless voters file a petition. According to the ordinance, no one filed one.

Host 2. In 2025, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, or PRAC, studied the city's parks master plan and created a report with recommendations for the council.

Host 1. Our earlier story on the golf course fund covered the irrigation rebuild and the Diamond Golf contract. This story looks at where the 2024 money has gone.

Host 1. Now the history. On October 19, 2023, according to the minutes, Councilor Prince moved and Councilor Sullivan seconded a resolution to start the borrowing, with a limit of 26 million dollars. The vote was unanimous.

Host 2. The same motion removed the words "to include the municipally owned golf course and swimming pool" from the resolution. The minutes do not give a reason for that change.

Host 1. The notice that followed listed five uses. City parks came first, then streets, then the water and wastewater system, including effluent dispersal irrigation, then police radios, then professional fees.

Host 2. On January 18, 2024, Councilor Durbin moved and Councilor Marion seconded the ordinance, and the council approved it unanimously. It set the amount at 23,465,000 dollars. It does not say how much should go to each use.

Host 1. In June 2025, according to a council packet, PRAC asked the council to increase budget priority for parks.

Host 2. The 2025-26 capital plan had one park project, a new Sunset Park driveway entrance. The plan paid for it from the General Fund reserve.

Host 1. The city's audit for the year that ended September 30, 2025, shows the Capital Projects Fund spent 6,702,461 dollars on capital outlay. No projects are named behind that figure.

Host 2. The 2026-27 budget book shows 11,899,919 dollars of the 2024 money spent so far, and 5,212,871 dollars more tied up in signed contracts. One contract pays Diamond Golf 3,615,632 dollars to build the golf course irrigation.

Host 1. Then came the PRAC meeting on October 14, 2026. The person leading it said they did not have a quorum, so it was an informational meeting, with no voting action.

Host 2. The person leading the meeting said the bond item was one Mark had brought up. Committee member Mark Douglas then read the ordinance's list of uses aloud and noted that city parks was listed first.

Host 2. Someone said of the budget's summary of the 2024 money, "I don't see anything park specific there, to be honest."

Host 1. Douglas listed park spending he found in the budget since 2025, like Sunset Park, the Turnback trails, pocket parks, and the pickleball court. Then he said he could only come up with about 700,000 dollars spent on constructing, improving, or renovating city parks.

Host 1. Near the end of the item, a speaker said they thought all but about two to two and a half million dollars had been encumbered.

Host 1. Here is what the records show. All of the park spending Douglas named came from the General Fund's budget, and none of it from the 2024 certificates. By our math, his items add up to 697,422 dollars, close to the 700,000 dollars he gave. That supports his point that the park work came from the regular budget. The 95,000 dollars for the pickleball court is a General Fund item in the 2026-27 budget.

Host 2. What does it mean for you? The 2024 debt runs until 2049. A property tax backs it.

Host 1. The tracking pages call 2,295,715 dollars and 68 cents potentially unprogrammed. The ordinance allows parks as a use.

Host 2. PRAC took no votes. Someone at the meeting called it a good question to follow up on.

Host 2. To weigh in, ask the city for the Finance Department's ledger of 2024 certificate spending by project. Ask how much of the money was planned for each use. And ask the council what it plans for the 2.3 million dollars still open.

Host 1. Thanks for listening to the Lago Vista Watchdog.

Sources and documents

Every fact in this story comes from the records below. The small numbers in the story point to them. Links go to the exact moment in the meeting video or the page in the document.

  1. City Council minutes, Jan. 18, 2024 See p. 3.
  2. City Council agenda packet, Jan. 18, 2024 (Ordinance No. 24-01-18-01, Section 1) See p. 23.
  3. City of Lago Vista adopted budget, fiscal year 2026-27 (2024 certificate of obligation, project funding summary) See p. 160.
  4. City of Lago Vista annual financial report, fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2025 (long-term debt) See p. 51.
  5. City Council agenda packet, Jan. 18, 2024 (agenda item report on the Series 2024 certificates) See p. 20.
  6. City of Lago Vista adopted budget, fiscal year 2026-27 (2024 certificate of obligation, current funding position) See p. 159.
  7. City budget book, 2015-2016 adopted See p. 19.
  8. City of Lago Vista adopted budget, fiscal year 2026-27 (five-year capital plan summary) See p. 158.
  9. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting video, Oct. 14, 2026 (member on the $700,000 total) At 1:56:52.
  10. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting video, Oct. 14, 2026 (member lists park spending) At 1:55:29.
  11. City of Lago Vista adopted budget, fiscal year 2026-27 (General Fund, Parks and Recreation line items) See p. 49.
  12. City of Lago Vista adopted budget, fiscal year 2026-27 (major budget items) See p. 7.
  13. City Council agenda packet, Jan. 18, 2024 (Ordinance No. 24-01-18-01) See p. 22.
  14. City Council agenda packet, June 26, 2025 (Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee findings) See p. 140.
  15. Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee agenda, Oct. 14, 2026
  16. City Council minutes, Oct. 19, 2023 See p. 4.
  17. City of Lago Vista adopted budget, fiscal year 2025-26 (capital improvement plan summary) See p. 131.
  18. City of Lago Vista adopted budget, fiscal year 2025-26 (capital plan, Sunset Park driveway) See p. 134.
  19. City of Lago Vista annual financial report, fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2025 (Capital Projects Fund, budget and actual) See p. 71.
  20. City of Lago Vista adopted budget, fiscal year 2026-27 (2024 certificate of obligation, contracts) See p. 162.
  21. City of Lago Vista adopted budget, fiscal year 2026-27 (budget message, capital program) See p. 5.
  22. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting video, Oct. 14, 2026 (no quorum) At 0:00:14.
  23. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting video, Oct. 14, 2026 (chair introduces the CO bond item) At 1:50:46.
  24. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting video, Oct. 14, 2026 (member reads the ordinance) At 1:51:28.
  25. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting video, Oct. 14, 2026 (speaker on budget page 158) At 1:54:45.
  26. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting video, Oct. 14, 2026 (member on the remaining balance) At 2:03:21.
  27. City of Lago Vista adopted budget, fiscal year 2026-27 (Parkland Fee Fund) See p. 140.
  28. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting video, Oct. 14, 2026 (speaker on following up) At 2:01:12.

See something wrong? Request a correction. Have records on this? Share them with us.