By Moses Leos III.
With 53 projects between 2013-18, Buda’s Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is the city’s blueprint for managing its long-term growth.
But finding a way to fund the $73 million CIP isn’t as easy as putting it together. A bond election may be the only way to pay for Buda’s high-cost wish list.
The scope of the list encompasses all city departments, and gives a cost estimate for each project, along with a possible method of funding.
According to Assistant City Manager Brian LaBorde, the list also keeps projects in the loop, where they are not “scattered.”
Buda’s CIP spans five years; the latest version runs from 2012-13 to 2017-18, with the 2015-16 year holding the highest price tag. According to the CIP, Buda expects to spend upwards of $40 million on various projects.
However, nothing is set in stone, according to LaBorde, who calls the CIP a “dynamic” list.
“Some things may be pushed out, or they may be (moved) up,” he said.
LaBorde referred to the Bonita Vista and Westside Well projects, which initially were pushed to 2014-15 due to budget concerns.
Both were eventually included in the 2013-14 budget, with HDR selected as the engineering firm for Bonita Vista on Jan. 7.
In addition, long-range planning helps maintain utility rates for water or wastewater projects. Having it done all at once could increase customer utility rates, according to LaBorde.
The original concept of the CIP began in 2012. Engineering firm Lockwood Andrews and Newnam (LAN) worked with city staff to compile priority projects for the city. All projects tie into the city’s Comprehensive Master Plan, along with its drainage plan, parks plan and Downtown Master Plan.
Two issues surround the CIP: How can the city fund everything, and can projects be finished by their deadlines?
In November, Buda sought those answers. The city explored other means of payment, including Certificates of Obligation. But the only answer, according to Mayor Todd Ruge, was to call a November bond election.
“I would think without a bond, it’s going to take a long time to get [the CIP] done,” Ruge said. “It gives us a chance to accelerate those projects and keep with our growth curve.”
Buda must make the call by Aug. 18 to hold a bond election. Before then, Buda must prioritize which CIP projects should be included.
Buda started the process in2012, naming 11 Buda citizens to a Bond Steering committee.
The group is comprised of a wide-range of citizens – both young and old – from various sections of the city. They have a say if Buda should, or shouldn’t, call a bond election. The committee will play a vital role in prioritizing the CIP list and will ultimately provide its recommendations to council.
“It’s very important to have a wide matrix of input of all aspects of the community,” councilmember Wiley Hopkins said. “ This is ideal for us to have such a variety of types of people – those that are retired, and those engaged in community each day.”
Input will also come from consulting firm Gap Strategies, which Buda hired on Jan. 7. Gap helped with the $36 million Kyle road bond package, which passed in May 2013.
The firm plays a role in prioritizing and reviewing projects for the council.
They will also facilitate Buda’s bond, holding public outreach meetings to spread the word.
Buda won’t have an estimate of how much a possible bond could cost until March.
A bond, however, is not guaranteed. If one doesn’t pass, Ruge said the city would “deal with it.”
But for Hopkins, “biting the bullet” and going forward with the bond is a step to finishing the CIP.
“There are some things we cannot ignore, nor can citizens … ignore in regards to infrastructure needs,” Hopkins said.
