By Andy Sevilla

For between $138 and $230 per year in taxes, homeowners in Buda could get $55 million in facility, road, park and trails, and drainage improvements throughout the city, according to official bond election information.

That, of course, is contingent upon Buda voters approving five propositions in the November ballot. 

It’s estimated that annual property taxes on a home valued at $173,000 would increase by $230. Those figures are based on the lowest growth figures from the past 10 years. The tax amount could drop to $138 per year on the same home if taxable property values increase closer to the average, rather than slowest,  growth rate of the past 10 years.

At a recent Buda Chamber of Commerce luncheon, City Manager Kenneth Williams told a packed room of business leaders that the city’s financial team and bond counsel produced the tax impact figures. 

He said the estimates were borne from the city’s financial situation during the recent recession-years; however, he cautioned that this year’s Buda sales tax figures are about 20 percent over recession-year numbers.

“The economy is doing much better, but we projected it at its worst,” Williams said.

A big concern for Buda residents is roads. Proposition 3 calls for improvements to the FM 967 and Main Street intersection, as well as other improvements along Main Street. The proposition would also allow for some work on Old Goforth Road and San Antonio Street, at a total cost of $12.25 million. 

A proposed improvement at the FM 967 and Main Street intersection is to include dedicated turn lanes on Main Street to FM 967. Some business leaders at the chamber luncheon questioned its feasibility. 

Williams said engineers have told city officials that there is enough room to construct dedicated turn lanes on Main Street – a claim that drew mocking laughs from the luncheon audience.

“They’re going to take away the parking spaces right there,” an audience member asked. “What about the sidewalks?” another yelled out.

Williams said the roadway would be redesigned to include a turn lane. He said some decorative flowerbeds would likely be removed. Williams didn’t speak to any specifics regarding any street parking that may be affected along Main Street, whether some spots may be removed or reconfigured, at the luncheon, but he did say, “if the engineers justify to get it done, we’ll do it.”

Others at the luncheon expressed concern for the creation of a Political Action Committee in favor of the bond.

“If this is so good for the city, why is there a PAC being formed to help get it voted for?” an audience member asked.

Williams said the city is not associated with the PAC.

“We need a PAC for it, because we’re trying to get information out,” Katie Bell Moore, a PAC representative and communication specialist for GAP Strategies, answered. “We’re trying to let people know, ‘hey, there’s a down ballot.’”

Concerns have arisen suggesting some voters may vote straight-ticket ballots and not look beyond hotly contested partisan state races and vote for Buda city council positions and the bond. 

A candidate for Buda office, Greg Henry, who is challenging incumbent Bobby Lane, asked Williams during the luncheon what the city would do with existing municipal buildings left vacant should voters approve a municipal facility and new police department. Henry asked if any thought had been given to developing an income revenue stream from the vacant city buildings that would help offset debt.

Williams said a facilities study was done for the city where consultants studied all municipal facilities and provided recommendations. He said if the bond propositions are approved, the consultants have offered recommendations for what to do with the existing City Hall, library and annex building that presently houses the police department. 

Williams said the existing facilities could be used by other public entities, like the chamber, for example. He said the city could perhaps sell them or enter in to a partnership with private interests. 

A decision has not been finalized on the matter. Williams did, however, say that the city’s annex building would likely need to be torn down as it is in bad condition. 

Buda’s election ballot hosts national and state races, state propositions, an Austin Community College (ACC) bond election, two Buda council races and the Buda bond election, which is broken down into five propositions totaling $55 million.

Early voting started Monday and will run through Oct. 31. Election Day is Nov. 4.