Bee Cave Proposes $20M Library Bond, Tax Increase for Voters

The city of Bee Cave is asking voters in November to approve $20 million for a new public library. Approval would raise taxes by $114 per year for the average homeowner, said Crystal Cotti, a city spokeswoman. The proposed library would be 18,500 square feet and would be built at 13941 Bee Cave Parkway.

Proposition A on the ballot asks voters to approve the new public library on the city-owned land. Proposition B asks voters to approve $20 million in bonds for the new structure.

Voters must approve the building because of a city proposition passed in November 2024 that requires them to approve any significant changes on land owned by the city. If they approve the library, it may increase the property tax rate as much as .0148 cents per $100 of property valuation, Cotti said.

The city would pay for the new structure using a combination of sales tax revenue and bonds, she said. The current library inside the City Hall building serves as a gathering place for people of all ages since the city doesn't have a community center, said Barbara Hathaway, the library director.

"I’ve had the privilege of serving Bee Cave since our library first opened in 2005 and I’ve seen how demand for library services has grown," she said. "More than 14,000 people a year now attend library programs that are often at capacity with no room to grow in our current space inside City Hall. Library programs compete for space with other needs like voting and municipal court, limiting our ability to add or expand programming."

"A larger, dedicated facility would provide the flexibility to adapt to future community needs," Hathaway said, "and accommodate more visitors, serving as a hub for literacy, learning, and engagement for all ages."

The proposed new library would be a one-story building. It would include private study/work rooms, a drive-up book dropoff, a multipurpose room and an outdoor reading area. It would also have areas for children, teens and adults. A timeline for construction will be established if the library is approved.