By Jessica Breger
As Buda City Council debates enacting a drainage utility fee, Mayor Todd Ruge told the 20 or so residents who attended a recent public meeting, “It’s not a money grab.”
At the May 27 session, the first of two planned public meetings, HDR Inc. project manager Grady Reed told audience members the proposed fee would appear on Buda water customers’ bills. That fee would be dedicated solely to drainage projects and maintenance, an area Reed said is often overlooked when spending general fund money. HDR is an engineering, architecture and construction services firm.
If the measure passes, Reed said the money collected would be legally obligated to drainage issues.
Buda city leaders and Reed addressed many residents’ questions but many answers are yet to come. For example, the fee amount is undetermined and it was not decided if the fee will pay worker costs for the projects.
Reed said the city has not decided whether it will go through with the fee yet, and is hoping for citizen input to help decide.
Ruge said some may fear the city is just looking for extra money but he said he truly feels the fee is needed, especially given flood and drainage issues the city had in October 2013.
He told meeting attendees the city wants to hear from its citizens before deciding whether to move forward. Ruge said if the city did not want resident input, council would have already voted in favor of the new fee.
“We [council members] are taxpayers too,” said Ruge, adding that, as a Buda resident, he does not take taxes and fees lightly.
He asked Buda residents to visit the city website to complete a survey on the issue.
The survey asks questions such as if they would support a fee, how much they feel should be charged and their thoughts on the matter overall.
The city has a bond in place addressing some major drainage issues. However, a new fee on the water bill would expedite smaller issues before they become a larger problem.
A list of 21 drainage projects in Buda not included in the recent bond was presented at the meeting. More areas are to be added in a second phase of the city's Drainage Master Plan.
City Manager Kenneth Williams said the fee is a way for Buda to be proactive rather than reactive to drainage issues.
Ruge said these projects will be addressed whether the fee is implemented or not. However the fee would expedite the projects by focusing funds on storm water drainage rather than using general fund money.
"Right now we have to ask, 'Do we want to repair this road, do we want to buy a new police car or do we want to put in a culvert over here,’" Ruge said.
Another public meeting on the matter is set for 6:30 p.m. June 4 at the Tom Green Elementary School cafeteria.
According to Reed, city council will decide whether to move forward with the plan during the June 16 council meeting. If the fee is approved citizens will see it added to their utility bills beginning October 2015.
