By Andy Sevilla

Buda voters approved $55 million in funding for five proposed bond projects earlier this month, and now city leaders are laying the groundwork to steamroll ahead.

The bond proposal was broken down into five different propositions in the November general election ballot, allowing Buda voters to vote up or down specific projects throughout the city.

With all bond measures approved, the Buda council now will work to prioritize the proposed improvements, hire a bond manager who will oversee the implementation of the projects and attempt to balance any property tax increases that will likely arise, officials said.

“I’m extremely grateful to the voters for seeing the citizen-driven vision of these bonds, and giving us the opportunity to grow in a responsible manner,” Buda Mayor Todd Ruge said.

The most costly of the proposed improvements is the construction of a new municipal complex, which would house a new city hall, municipal court, library, community room and emergency preparedness space. That facility’s price tag is expected at about $21 million. 

The proposed improvements also would see the construction of a new public safety facility, which would house a police department. Included in the projects also are fixes to several city streets, drainage issues and parks and trails.

“Essentially all of these projects are really needed for the city, not only for the growth we’re seeing now, but also for the growth we’re anticipating,” Ruge said.

Soon after voters approved the five ballot propositions, city staff convened to begin strategic thinking on what action they would need to take to prepare to transact the new city business, Buda Manager Kenneth Williams said.

On Nov. 18, council members are slated to deliberate the rollout of the bond projects, prioritize the propositions and create a preliminary timeline, Williams said.

Council members then will follow up with a January meeting, once a bond manager is hired sometime before year’s end, and prepare a “more definitive timeline,” Williams said. The salary for the bond manager will come from the city’s existing budget.

For Ruge, he hopes to see projects roll out sooner than later, he said, adding that oftentimes cities with voter-approved bond projects sit on implementation for several years.

According to the unofficial Nov. 4 election results, Buda voters handily approved $12.25 million in street improvements (Proposition 3) with slightly more than 71 percent backing.  

Those improvements include street projects identified in the city’s Transportation Master Plan and Downtown Plan, including improvements to the intersection of FM 967 and Main Street, other improvements along Main Street, and work on Old Goforth Road and San Antonio Street.

Ruge said those roadway fixes are urgent.

“Anything that has to do with roads and traffic, I believe is essential,” he said. “In my mind, traffic is always on the top of everyone’s list.”

Buda voters also readily green-lighted building a new public safety facility to house the police department and related emergency and training facilities (Proposition 2), and in improving flood control, run off and other drainage projects (Proposition 4). Both measures were approved with 66 percent support.  

Improvements to parks and trails (Proposition 5) and a new municipal complex (Proposition 1) were approved with 59 and 55 percent, respectively.

“The people here in Buda realized the growth that we’ve experienced and approved the propositions, giving us the opportunity to plan responsibly for our future and build infrastructure that will last a generation,” Ruge said.

Though the approved bond funding could triple the city’s debt, meager increases to the property tax rate are expected, according to city officials.

The first property tax rate increase could come about as soon as October 2015, if project work begins and bonds are issued. 

Williams said homeowners could anticipate a small increase due to bond issuances, but because of continued population and business growth, record-setting sales tax collections and subdivision build-outs and sales, the tax implication could be minimal.

“We have to consider our citizens that are currently in Buda and provide a great quality of life and also be proactive for the expected growth,” Williams said. “…It’s an exciting time for Buda. We’re in an important point in the development of the city, and it’s a responsibility that we – as an administration and elective board – take very seriously.”