ROUND ROCK, Texas — On Thursday, the City of Round Rock took another step toward transforming the area around Dell Diamond.
The Round Rock Transportation and Economic Development Corporation and the Round Rock City Council approved the sale of a $21.3 million sales tax revenue bond for project costs related to the design and construction of a 200,000-square-foot convention center.
The center will be owned by the City and built next to the Kalahari Resort, which will be responsible for its maintenance and operation costs.
"These bonds will be repaid through revenues generated by the Kalahari project," said Will Hampton, the communications and marketing director for the City of Round Rock.
Hampton said sales tax and hotel occupancy tax from the Kalahari Resort will be used to pay off the convention center debt.
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The convention center, which is expected to open in late 2020, will include what is expected to be the largest ballroom in Central Texas, the Kilimanjaro Ballroom.
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This is the first of two planned sales tax revenue bond issues to fund $40 million in net proceeds to construct the facility. The second issue is planned for April 2020.
Also on Thursday, the Round Rock City Council approved a resolution authorizing the adoption of a five-year fund allocation of $304.4 million for planned transportation and economic development projects.
"Roads like Gattis School Road, Kenney Fort Boulevard, University Boulevard on the north end of town," Hampston said.
Hampton said Kenney Fort Boulevard, for example, will be extended from Forest Creek Drive to Highway 45. That is supposed to help with traffic once Kalahari opens.
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