Williamson County is building a new jail one-third of a mile from two schools — after voting against a $7 million rural alternative and paying $75.8 million for this site instead. We support the project. We're asking why it has to be here.
Make Your Voice Heard →Every claim below is sourced from official county documents, local news coverage, or statements from public officials. Nothing here is speculation.
George Wagner Middle School (969 students) is approximately one-third of a mile from the proposed site at 1200 CR 110. Mitchell Elementary (719 students) is under half a mile. Together, nearly 1,700 students attend these two campuses — an 8 to 10 minute walk from the facility entrance.
In July 2025, commissioners voted 2-2 on whether to even conduct due diligence on a 481-acre rural site in Florence priced at approximately $7 million — well away from residential areas and schools. That motion failed. Eight months later, commissioners unanimously approved a contract to purchase 253 acres on CR 110 for $75,819,874. That is a $68 million difference in land cost, for less acreage, placed next to two schools.
Source: Community Impact, July 2025 →County jails hold individuals awaiting trial and process same-day bookings. Unlike state prisons, they have a daily release cadence. People leave at all hours, often with no transportation arranged. The operational reality of a county jail is fundamentally different from a state correctional facility.
The CR 110 / SE Inner Loop corridor has no fixed public transit route, no walkable services or businesses, and no support resources. CARTS, the local demand-response transit service, requires advance reservations and a phone to schedule a ride. Someone released with no phone and no money cannot use it. They have nowhere to go but into surrounding neighborhoods and school zones.
A City of Georgetown official confirmed in writing that "what happens to individuals when they leave the jail has been a major issue in our downtown area" and that the city is actively working with the county on it. Moving the facility to a residential corridor next to schools does not solve the problem — it relocates it.
The purchase contract approved on March 24, 2026 includes a 75-day feasibility period. That window closes around early June 2026. Until then, the county retains the legal right to walk away from the purchase. The decision is not final. County officials still have the option to reconsider — and residents still have time to make that case before it closes.
Source: Williamson County purchase announcement → Source: Community Impact, March 2026 →As of late April 2026, no rezoning or Special Use Permit application for this site has appeared on any City of Georgetown Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council agenda. The formal public hearings, where residents have legal standing to testify, have not yet begun. When that process starts, showing up matters. Until then, direct outreach to elected officials is the most effective action available.
Williamson County needs a modern jail. The current downtown facility is outdated. This is not a campaign against the project itself.
What we're asking is why commissioners voted against even looking at a $7 million rural alternative, then unanimously paid $75.8 million for a site next to two schools. And what the county's plan is for daily inmate releases into a neighborhood with no transit, no services, and students walking by.
"County convenience shouldn't take precedence over resident safety. There is plenty of open land in Williamson County that meets every criteria without being next to schools."Georgetown resident and concerned parent
The county approved a contract to purchase this property on March 24, 2026, with a 75-day feasibility period built in. That window closes around early June 2026. Until then, the county can still exit the contract. The decision is not final.
No zoning case has been filed with the City of Georgetown. The formal public hearings where residents have legal standing to testify haven't happened yet. This process is still in motion.
That means your voice matters right now — before decisions become irreversible. Email your representatives, share this page with your neighbors, and stay informed as the zoning process begins.
The window is open. Use it.
Written emails carry more weight than phone calls — they create a paper trail and go on the record. Keep it factual and specific. The commissioner and county judge both face voters in November 2026.
Copy this template, add your name and address, personalize as needed, and send it to the officials above. Your own words matter — this is just a starting point.
Commissioner Boles and Judge Snell, My name is [YOUR NAME]. I live at [YOUR ADDRESS] in Georgetown, TX, near the proposed Justice Complex site on CR 110. I want to put several concerns on the record before the feasibility period closes. In July 2025, the Commissioners Court voted 2-2 on whether to conduct due diligence on a Florence property of approximately 481 acres priced at around $7 million — well away from residential areas and schools. That motion failed. Eight months later, commissioners unanimously approved a contract for 253 acres on CR 110 for $75,819,874. That is a $68 million difference in land cost, for less acreage, placed next to two schools and multiple residential neighborhoods. I would like to understand whether any formal written site comparison was presented to commissioners before the March vote. Beyond site selection, I want to raise a concern about inmate release. The CR 110 corridor has no fixed public transit, no walkable services, and no support infrastructure. CARTS requires advance reservations and a registered phone account. Someone walking out of a county jail with no phone and no money cannot use it. That leaves released individuals with no clear option but to move into the surrounding neighborhood. George Wagner Middle School is approximately a third of a mile from this site. Mitchell Elementary is under half a mile. Together they serve nearly 1,700 students. I understand law enforcement has a preference for site proximity to existing county infrastructure. That is a legitimate consideration. It is not, on its own, sufficient justification for placing a county jail and its daily release population next to schools in a residential corridor with no transit and no services. I am asking for three things before the feasibility period closes: 1. Public release of any site comparison documentation, including the July 2025 Florence vote record and the stated rationale for the March 2026 approval. 2. A formal assessment of inmate release planning for this location — specifically what transit access, support services, or infrastructure the county intends to provide. 3. A commitment that if this site moves forward, detention and transport operations will be oriented away from the Rockride Lane residential and school corridor. This community is paying close attention and deserves answers before June. [YOUR NAME] [YOUR ADDRESS] Georgetown, TX