By Moses Leos III
A proposed $30 million bond for the city of Buda may have a new, higher price tag, based in part on survey data from the city’s consultant.
Jeff Barton, Principle at Gap Strategies, advised the Buda City Council at its May 20 meeting to think about adding at least $10 million to the bond amount.
“To address some of the critical needs, the city should consider going above the initial estimate of $30 million,” he said.
The council whittled down many of the city’s priorities several months ago and arrived at the $30 million price tag. But new data indicates Buda’s growth means more money is needed.
Barton’s recommendation is based on the results of a recent survey conducted by his firm for the city. He said the data shows Buda residents are cognizant of the rapidly approaching growth.
According to one projection from the Texas State Data Center, Buda’s population could reach 80,000 by 2040. That would include the full-purpose annexation of the Sunfield Municipal Utility District (MUD) and the Stonefield Water Control and Improvement District (WCID).
It’s a decision the Buda Bond Advisory Committee (BBAC) believed was essential to cover the cost of desperately needed facilities.
The price increase will expand the bond budget from $30 million to $40 or $45 million.
Barton presented the data to the Buda City Council on May 20.
The surveys were open to anyone, he said, but responses were limited to one per Internet Protocol (IP) address.
Kara Bishop-Buffington, principal and co-owner of Gap Strategies, said approximately 100 people completed the survey prior to the May 20 meeting. By the time the survey closed on June 2, approximately 250 people took the survey.
“We sent out emails, ran Facebook and Twitter ads, had a banner on Main Street and had surveys available at the Library and City Hall,” Buffington said. “The city also passed out a flyer about them.”
Buffington said roughly 77 percent of those surveyed live in Buda, 21 percent live in the Buda Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), and two percent were from Mountain City.
According to the results, 95 percent of Buda residents surveyed recognized the growth, and that plans should be made to adjust for it.
“A strong majority of residents recognize that growth is for real, and it’s here to stay,” Barton said. “They also believe the city has done a good job of shepherding resources. Now’s a good time to invest in the future.”
The results showed respondents strongly favored walkability; it coincided with their desire for a city that intermixes residential and commercial aspects.
“They point toward neo-traditional or urban communities,” Barton said. “They also wanted homes and places to recreate and to shop and to have entertainment opportunities in the same community, as opposed to a suburban, bedroom community.”
Gap brought the survey results to the BBAC, which further discussed them.
Roads were the top priority at 35.8 percent, with facilities a close second at 30 percent.
The BBAC conducted additional research such as pulling permit requests, library visits and public works permits. The group also looked at the now complete facilities study. New structures would include a state-of -the-art city hall, library and possibly a new police station.
“As we grow to a community to 25,000 or more, it just takes more room to house police officers, municipal court clerks and city staff who can deal with needs that people are coming to city hall for,” Barton said.
The BBAC used its additional research to push for $20 to $30 million to be set aside for facilities. Barton stressed the numbers were a “rough-cut.”
Processes also began to prioritize nearly $90 million in projects for the city, including roughly $70 million in the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP).
Several water and wastewater projects were cut. Barton said the city determined several projects could be paid for by other means. However, the city’s drainage study is still being considered for the bond.
The results of the survey were not a surprise to Buda Mayor Todd Ruge. While the city council set the baseline at $30 million, he knew it was malleable.
“When we did that, I was only thinking facilities,” Ruge said.
Council member Angela Kennedy said recent population projections “readjusted” her frame of reference on the price.
“The cost of those bonds are not going to be paid by us,” she said. “It’s going to be paid by everyone else that moves in as community grows.”
Barton said the BBAC and Gap would hold a public input meeting on June 19 for more information. No location has been decided for the event.
“We just want to hear what the public has to say and what their direction is,” Barton said.
