By Moses Leos III Despite several key Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) on the books, Buda anticipates to be $1.4 million in the black for the 2014-15 Fiscal Year.  However, with some of the money restricted from use, city manager Kenneth Williams stresses the numbers aren’t solid at this point.  “...

By Andy Sevilla  Hays County’s corridor cities all experienced positive sales tax growth this month, with Buda taking a near 40 percent hike in its collections, and Kyle growing its receipts by 33 percent. The Texas Comptroller’s Office returned $435,000 to Buda for its sales tax collections this mo...

By Moses Leos III T avern on Main owner Julie Renfro is no stranger when it comes to live music. Her bustling Buda bar has showcased live bands each week for the past two years.  However, when Buda revised its noise ordinance in December, Renfro had to make changes to abide by the rules  — rules she...

By Moses Leos III An upswing in the economy has Buda anticipating a “favorable position” when it comes to the 2014-15 budget.  However, with the process still in its early stages, city manager Kenneth Williams hesitates to take a strong position on next year’s budget.  “It’s still early in the proce...

By Moses Leos III Budget discussions in Buda include a salary increase for employees, which would push the total amount spent on salaries to more than $3 million. The city council will decide on whether to offer raises as it works through all of the proposals on the table this budget cycle for the 2...

By Moses Leos III A proposed $30 million bond for the city of Buda may have a new, higher price tag, based in part on survey data from the city’s consultant. Jeff Barton, Principle at Gap Strategies, advised the Buda City Council at its May 20 meeting to think about adding at least $10 million to th...

By Moses Leos III Becoming part of the Lone Star Rail district (LSTAR), a proposed 118-mile passenger rail system that will run from Georgetown to San Antonio, could be a reality for Buda.   Joe Black, Rail Director for LSTAR, made a presentation at the May 20 city council meeting, providing input o...

By Moses Leos A modern, functional library — that’s the dream lodged in the minds of Buda residents Bob Elder and Neva Lockett.  It could become a reality, as Buda city leaders envision a 73,000-sq-ft facility with anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 dedicated to the library.  Both believe the larger str...

By Moses Leos III A new ordinance in Buda could pave the way mobile food vendors to operate in the city.  However, Vic Garcia of Shugabees BBQ believes strict guidelines in the ordinance could do more harm than good . It’s enough for Garcia to possibly contemplate heading north to Austin . “The move...

By Moses Leos III Deciding on priorities for a possible Buda bond was a challenge for resident Nancy Hart. She had three topics – roads, drainage and the parks system – at the top of her list. “It’s important for Buda to invest in infrastructure, even though it’s not particularly sexy,” Hart said. “...