The Legislative Budget Board, in cooperation with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), has determined that:

The bill amends Special District Local Laws Code by adding Chapter 6606 to create Starr County Drainage District with the powers and duties of a drainage district under Water Code Chapters 49 and 56.

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. The District is subject to confirmation election by the voters.

The bill does not name five temporary directors. Service on the board is an additional duty of office of the Commissioners Court of Starr County.

The bill becomes effective immediately with two-thirds vote of the members or on September 1, 2009.

1)     Population – The 2007 State Water Plan projects Starr County to grow from its 2000 population of 53,597 people to 66, 137 in 2010 and onward to 79,538 in 2020.

2)     Location – The proposed drainage district is coextensive with the boundaries of Starr County.

3)  Comments on Powers/Duties Different from Similar Types of Districts-Section 41.001(a) of the election code does not apply to a confirmation election under this section. The confirmation election must be conducted as provided by section 49.102 (a)-(f) of the Water Code, and the election code.

4)  Overlapping Services- The District's territory is coextensive with the boundaries of Starr County, Texas.

5)  TCEQ 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 – Within Starr County, 6 percent of the total water use was groundwater in 2004.  Of the total groundwater used, 45 percent was for municipal purposes and 44 percent was for irrigation.  Groundwater is primarily withdrawn from the Gulf Coast Aquifer.  Of the total water used in Starr County in 2004, 49 percent was for municipal purposes and 43 percent was for irrigation.