by Jeff Wilkinson
Much attention has been paid in recent months to the environmental aspects of the City of Dripping Springs’ proposed wastewater-system expansion and requisite discharge permit. And, rightly so. It’s an incredibly complex project with many moving parts.
I’m glad our community is having important conversations on the topic, as the proposed expansion will affect how Dripping Springs grows in the future. I believe we all want to protect our environment and the envied quality of life we hold so dearly. I also believe that’s precisely what our city leaders want as well, and I commend them for making these tough, but necessary decisions.
While a lot time and energy have been given to the environmental concerns associated with the project, in particular, the health of our nearby creeks, I’d like to discuss another critical component of the wastewater-system expansion – the city’s economic vitality.
Dripping Springs enjoys one of the lowest tax rates in all of Hays County at 17 cents per $100 of valuation. And, these property taxes remain low due to the commercial development in the area, which generates much-needed sales tax.
While we are fortunate to have a strong commercial base here in the city, this type of development does require wastewater capacity. And, we are already struggling to meet current demand, let alone provide service to the future development proposed for our area.
The Dripping Springs Economic Development Committee, of which I am a member, has supported the city’s effort to expand its wastewater system from the beginning. You might wonder about the connection or reason for that support.
In addition to the positive tax implications mentioned above, sufficient wastewater capacity also has a direct impact on job creation. One of our committee’s goals is aimed at bringing quality employers to the city; these employers provide those quality jobs to our friends and neighbors, and that’s good for all of Dripping Springs.
And, what is one of the key ingredients these employers look for when expanding or relocating their companies? You got it, wastewater capacity. We must have it to attract these quality employers and jobs.
Wastewater also provides the city with an additional tool in its toolbox to better guide growth and help shape our region. It gives the city a stronger hand in implementing sustainable and smart growth. Developers must have wastewater connections, or living unit equivalents (LUEs), as part of their projects.
The dity has control over how these are allocated, when and where, which provides it with leverage when negotiating agreements with developers. This can support higher environmental standards, density and other smart-growth objectives.
I offer this perspective simply as some additional food for thought during our community’s ongoing discussion around wastewater expansion. While the details and technical aspects of the project can be quite complex, the facts are actually quite simple: We are running out of wastewater capacity. More people and development are moving here. We should do something to proactively prepare for it.
Jeff Wilkinson is president and CEO of Pioneer Bank.
