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 amends Special District Local Laws Code to create Ledbetter Utility District No. 1 of Kaufman and Rockwall Counties (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 III, Section 52 and Article XVI, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution to benefit the property within the District, and with limited powers of eminent domain. The District is subject to confirmation election by the voters. Temporary directors are named in the bill.

1)     Population – The detailed description of the proposed boundaries does not allow staff to develop precise population estimates. The 2000 Census population of Kaufman County was 71,313, with 10,239 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 148,580 by 2020, the County-Other population is projected to increase to 14,426. In Rockwall County, the total population is projected to increase from 43,080 to 126,029 in 2020; the County-Other population from 962 to 1,816.

2)     Location – The district is located within Kaufman and Rockwall Counties.

3)  Comments on Powers/Duties Different from Similar Types of Districts – The District will have road powers. If the District has not been confirmed by September 1, 2011, then the District is dissolved September 1, 2011.

4)  Overlapping Services – The stated boundaries form a 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 Kaufman and Rockwall Counties are needed to complete an overlapping services check for Tracts 1A, 1B, 2, 3, and 4. A metes and bounds description (preferably with the source Abstract listed) is also needed. The overlapping service providers for Tracts 1A, 1B, and 3 are not determinable because there is no survey data for the Jared Stephenson Survey, Abstract 451. The overlapping service provider for Tracts 2 and 4 may be: CCN 10841:Highpoint Water Supply Corporation.

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.