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 by adding Chapter 8248 to create Randall County Municipal Utility District No. 1 (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, before the issuance of any indebtedness, may be divided into two or more districts.  If the District has not been confirmed before September 1, 2011, then the District is dissolved on September 1, 2011.

1)  Population – The detailed description of the proposed boundaries does not allow staff to develop precise population estimates. The 2000 Census population of Randall County was 104,312, with 16,783 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 131,546 by 2020, the County-Other population is projected to increase to 26,471.

2)  Location – The district is located within Randall County.

3) Comments on Powers/Duties Different from Similar Types of Districts – The District will have road powers.

4) Overlapping Services – The stated boundaries do not 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 references points (major road names, road intersections) and the proposed district’s geographic location mapped within Randall County is needed to complete overlapping service check. A metes and bounds description (preferably with the source Abstract listed) is also 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 – Forty-nine percent of Randall County water use in 2004 was for municipal purposes, with 45 percent for irrigation. Seventy-four percent of the total water use, and 49 percent of the municipal use, comes from groundwater sources.