The Legislative Budget Board, in cooperation with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), has determined that:

The bill amends La Joya Special Utility District (District) in Hidalgo and Starr Counties with the powers and duties of Water Code Chapters 49 and 65 related to general law special utility districts. The purpose of the District includes: providing works and projects under powers conferred by Article XVI, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution to benefit the property within the District and the power of eminent domain. 

1)     Population - As existing, the current La Joya Water Supply Corporation had an estimated

population of 41,117 in 2005.  The population is projected to increase to 73,747 by 2020.

 2)     Location - The district is located primarily within Hidalgo County, with a small portion within Starr County.

3)  Comments on Powers/Duties Different from Similar Types of Districts-Texas Water Code Chapter 65, on “Special Utility District” applies to this District.  The District would have the power to provide water, wastewater, drainage, irrigation and fire fighting services.

4)  Overlapping Services- The District's boundaries include the area of the La Joya Water Supply Corporation which currently holds Certificates of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) Nos. 10559 and 20785.  There are overlapping CCNs with Hidalgo County Municipal Utility District No. 1, Sharyland Water Supply Corporation, and the City of Mission for water service and the City of Penitas and the City of Mission for wastewater service. The District overlaps the City of Los Ebanos, City of Palm View, City of LaJoya, Sullivan City, Hidalgo County Water Control and Improvement District No. 18 and United Irrigation District.

5)  TCEQ's Supervision-As with general law districts, the TCEQ will have general supervisory authority, including bond review authority and review of financial reports.  Also, the District is also subject to the TCEQ's regulatory authority of Water Code Chapter 13 for the areas within the CCNs boundaries.