TO:	Honorable Robert Puente, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1918 by Rodriguez (Relating to the creation of the Travis-Creedmoor Municipal Utility District; providing authority to impose taxes and issue bonds. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

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 creates Travis-Creedmoor Municipal Utility District (District) with the powers and duties of a municipal utility district under Water Code Chapters 49 and 54. 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.  The District is subject to confirmation election by the voters.
 

1)   Population-   The detailed description of the proposed boundaries does not allow staff to develop precise population estimates.  The 2000 Census population of Travis County was 812,280, with 44,016 living in areas identified in the 2007 State Water Plan as “County-Other” (outside cities of more than 500 and established water utility districts).  The total county population is projected to increase to 1,185,499 by 2020, the County-Other population is projected to be 27,853.
 
2)   Location - The district is located within Travis County.

3)  Comments on Powers/Duties Different from Similar Types of Districts-   The District will have road powers. 
 
4)  Overlapping Services-   Based on the metes and bounds provided in the Senate Committee Substitute version, the stated boundaries form an acceptable closure.  There is insufficient information provided in the bill to determine if the District overlaps any water supply or sewer‑service corporations, investor‑owned utilities, or local water districts or authorities.  An area map containing at least two reference points (major road names, road intersections) and the proposed district’s geographic location mapped within San Jacinto County are needed to perform an overlapping services check.  A metes and bounds description (preferably with the source Abstract listed) is also needed.  Tracts 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, and 11 may overlap CCN No. 11029: Creedmoor-Maha Water Supply Corporation, CCN No. 11244: Garfield Water Supply Corporation, CCN Nos. 11322 and 20636: the City of Austin, and CCN No. 20663: Southland Regional SVC Corp.  Tracts 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 may overlap CCN No. 11029: Creedmoor-Maha Water Supply Corporation, and CCN No. 20636: the City of Austin.  There is not enough information provided for Tract 12 (Abstract information is needed).
 
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.

6)  Water Use - 37 percent of Travis County water use in 2004 was for municipal purposes, with 26 percent for manufacturing.   94 percent of the total water use, and 93 percent of the municipal water use, comes from surface water sources.