The Legislative Budget Board, in cooperation with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), has determined the following:
The bill creates Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 494 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 bill does not include the names of the District’s temporary directors. The District is subject to confirmation election by the voters. The bill becomes effective on September 1, 2007.
1) Population - The detailed description of the proposed boundaries does not allow staff to develop precise population estimates. The 2000 Census population of Harris County was 3,400,578, with 76,009 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 4,502,786 by 2020, the County-Other population is projected to be 51,260. In Montgomery County, the total population is projected to increase from 293,768 to 542,051 in 2020; the County-Other population from 99,788 to 198,870.
2) Location - The proposed district encompasses areas of both Harris County and Montgomery County.
3) Comments on Powers/Duties Different from Similar Types of Districts - The District will have road powers. If the District has not been confirmed before September 1, 2011, then the District is dissolved on September 1, 2011.
4) Overlapping Services - The stated boundaries form an acceptable closure. The known overlapping service providers may be Harris County MUD Nos. 106, 109, 132, 151, 152, 153, 412, and the City of Houston.
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 - Fifty-nine percent of Harris County water use in 2004 was for municipal purposes, with 39 percent for manufacturing. Sixty-one percent of the total water use, and 43 percent of the municipal use, comes from surface water sources. In Montgomery County, 95 percent of the water use was for municipal purposes, with 3 percent for manufacturing. Ninty-nine percent of the total water use, and 100 percent of the municipal use, comes from groundwater sources.