TO: | Honorable Royce West, Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations |
FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
IN RE: | SB1961 by Hegar (Relating to the creation of the Willow Creek Farms Municipal Utility District; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain.), As Introduced |
1) Population - The description of the proposed boundaries does not allow staff to develop precise population estimates. The 2000 Census population of Waller County was 32,663, with 16,755 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 51,175 by 2020, the County-Other population is projected to increase to 29,844. In Fort Bend County, the total population is projected to increase from 354,452 to 630,624 in 2020; the County-Other population from 38,168 to 120,315.
2) Location - The district is located within Waller and Fort Bend Counties.
3) Comments on Powers/Duties Different from Similar Types of Districts- The District will have road powers.
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 references points (major road names, road intersections) and the proposed district’s geographic location mapped within Waller County is needed to complete overlapping service check. The District may overlap Willow Point Municipal Utility District of Fort Bend County.
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 - 82 percent of Waller County water use in 2004 was for irrigation, with 12 percent for municipal purposes. 97 percent of the total water use and 99 percent of the municipal water use comes from groundwater sources. 42 percent of Fort Bend County water use in 2004 was for municipal purposes, with 33 percent for power generation and 19 percent for irrigation. 53 percent of the total water use and 92 percent of the municipal water use comes from groundwater sources.
Source Agencies: | 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 580 Water Development Board
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LBB Staff: | JOB, WK
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