LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
WATER DEVELOPMENT POLICY IMPACT STATEMENT
 
80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 4, 2007

TO:
Honorable Royce West, Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB2021 by Wentworth (Relating to the creation of the Southern Travis Special Utility District; providing authority to issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain.), As Introduced

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 7214 to create Southern Travis Special Utility District with the powers and duties of a special utility district under Water Code, Chapters 49 and 65, and Article XVI, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution. The District is not subject to confirmation election. The District is subject to confirmation election. The District is not being created from a Water Supply Corporation conversion, but may annex land released from an existing Water Supply Corporation’s CCN. Effective immediately upon two-thirds vote in each house or 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 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 eminent domain powers.

 

4)  Overlapping Services – The stated boundaries form a closure. An area map containing at least two reference points (major road names, road intersections) and the proposed district’s geographic location mapped with the county 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 – Thirty-seven percent of Travis County water use in 2004 was for municipal purposes, with 26 percent for manufacturing. Ninety-four percent of the total water use, and 93 percent of the municipal water use, comes from surface water sources.



Source Agencies:
580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff:
JOB, DB