Copperas Cove approves notice for $34.2 million bond issue

Copperas Cove City Council moved ahead with a financing package that could commit taxpayers to more than $50.1 million in principal and interest over time, approving a notice of intent for up to $34,230,000 in certificates of obligation.

The notice, which set a tentative final authorization date of Aug. 4, 2026, at 6 p.m., said the debt would mature over a period not to exceed 40 years and be payable from ad valorem taxes plus a limited pledge of certain surplus water-and-sewer revenues of no more than $1,000. The city estimated the combined principal and interest repayment at $50,169,467, with $6.4 million supported by general fund taxes and the remainder tied to other city revenue sources.

City leaders said the money would cover a mix of basic services and long-term capital needs across Copperas Cove. The notice listed water and sewer facilities, solid waste facilities, parks and recreation, golf course work, drainage, streets and sidewalks, administrative and public works office facilities, vehicles, equipment, and computer and electronic purchases as project purposes. The package also included cemetery expansion, capital outlay items and $600,000 for City Hall renovation at 508 South 2nd Street.

City Manager Ryan Haverlah said the first phase of cemetery expansion was urgent because the city has only about three to four years of burial space left, depending on death rates and available plots. He said the issue reaches beyond city bookkeeping because families need burial space close to home.

The proposal also would send money to Hills of Cove Golf Course for irrigation and greens renovations. Haverlah said the course has stayed open, but the Copperas Cove Parks and Recreation Department continues to struggle with greens maintenance, and the irrigation system is inefficient, leading to muddy collars and repeated replacement work.

Councilman Dale Treadway questioned whether every item needed to go into the bond package, suggesting the city could use general fund money for the City Hall project and defer some other work to keep the burden lower. The building has ongoing leaks and exterior plaster damage, and the city said it wants to prevent further deterioration.

The move fits a broader capital planning effort. Copperas Cove adopted its 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan on Aug. 19, 2025, and the ordinance says the city weighs service needs and financing ability before making major capital investments. City public notices also show the annual certificate process is recurring, including a 2025 notice that sought up to $32 million in combination tax and revenue certificates of obligation.