Summary
Waller County is the fastest-growing county in Texas and courts are out of space — only one courtroom is safe for felony trials, and criminal caseloads are up 25-30% since 2020. The court is spending ~$3.5 million to finish construction documents on a five-story, ~$100 million judicial center so it can lock in a guaranteed price before costs climb further.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 16, 2026.
Impact analysis
Roughly $3.5 million now for design documents, with a ~$107 million total project budget once soft costs are included.
Residents get faster case resolution, a safer courthouse connected to the jail, and protection against rising construction costs.
Taxpayers face a substantial future financing commitment, likely through a bond election or certificates of obligation.
Mentions & discussions (5)
Regular Session — September 16, 2026
The court approved a $1.26 million construction application to SEDALCO for the Justice Tower and reviewed the 50% budget estimate — the county's courthouse-related building project is moving forward at significant cost.
Commissioners Court - Sep 16, 2026
The new judicial center is now budgeted at about $114.5 million for construction, with the county poised to borrow up to $125 million via certificates of obligation. The GMP comes November 9 and completion is targeted for March 2029.
Commissioners Court - Aug 19, 2026
The county is moving toward up to $125 million in certificates of obligation to build a justice tower connecting courts, clerks, and the DA's office to the jail. Expect roughly a 3-4 cent tax rate impact — about $128 a year on a median home.
Justice Tower Workshop — June 24, 2026
Waller County leaders scheduled a workshop on the Justice Tower, a major county facilities project. Details of the discussion were not recorded in the materials provided.
Commissioners Court - Jun 10, 2026
Waller County is the fastest-growing county in Texas and courts are out of space — only one courtroom is safe for felony trials, and criminal caseloads are up 25-30% since 2020. The court is spending ~$3.5 million to finish construction documents on a five-story, ~$100 million judicial center so it can lock in a guaranteed price before costs climb further.
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