Buda to spend $300K moving heritage oak for city offices

By Samantha Smith

Heated debate hit the Buda City Council chambers earlier this month when city leaders attempted to find solutions for a 53-inch wide heritage oak tree that’s in the footprint of their new municipal and public safety building. 

But city leaders learned possibly relocating the tree could cost $324,000, which wouldn’t be covered by the $21 million Buda voters approved in Proposition 1 of the 2014 bond. The Buda city council decided to table moving forward with site plans for the new facility to allow city staff to investigate options on relocating the tree.