Honorable Carol Alvarado, Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2435 by Wray (Relating to public improvement projects financed by or through assessments levied on property by municipalities and counties.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to expand an existing definition of "public improvement project" to include recreational facilities and certain water features. Authorizes the acquisition of right-of-ways for public improvement projects. Authorizes payment of expenses related to the operation and maintenance of public improvement projects. Removes a right to protest certain improvements funded through general obligation or revenue bonds. Extends an existing requirement to hold hearings on the establishment of a public improvement district to include increases of areas of existing districts and to make certain changes to assessments following any expansion.
The bill would also amend the Local Government Code to exempt some public improvement projects funded by special assessment from general requirements imposed on counties regarding competitive bidding and proposals.
According to the Public Utility Commission, the bill would have no significant fiscal impact and the provisions of the bill could be accomplished using existing resources.
According to the Bond Review Board, the bill provides for no additional debt authorization, but its impact on state debt cannot be determined at this time.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of each house. If the bill does not receive the vote necessary it would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to the Bond Review Board, the Public Utility Commission, and the Comptroller of Public Accounts the fiscal impact on units of local government cannot be determined at this time.
According to the Texas Association of Counties, there is not anticipated to be a fiscal impact to counties from the bill.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 352 Bond Review Board, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas