Staff Report.
Everything is coming up roses – that could have been the mantra of Buda Mayor Todd Ruge in his State of the City address Thursday to members and guests of the Buda Chamber of Commerce.
Quick facts on Buda | |
Median age: 33 Median household size: 2.89 Median household Income: $77,597 Residential subdivisions in city limits: 17 Total platted lots in city limits: 3,256 Park land: 273 acres Existing concrete/crushed granite trails:3 miles Public park areas: 13 State/federal grants awarded: $39.5M Total 2012-2013 Revenue: $15,962,436 Revenues exceeded* budget by: $2,118,949
*Revenue increases were due to a 12 percent increase in sales tax, a 32 percent increase in Permitting & Licenses, and an eight percent increase in Utilities. |
Ruge recapped the highlights of the city over the past year, including upgrades to local parks, the formation of a Citizen’s Academy and opening the Jackson Tyler Norris Memorial Skate Park.
He touted the city’s actual revenue – a combination of more sales tax, permitting and license fees, and utilities – that exceeded the budgeted revenues by more than $2 million.
Ruge told the audience that Buda was named the fastest growing city in the last two years in the CAMPO Growth Monitoring Report 2007-2011.
The mayor credited his fellow city council members with planning for the city’s continued growth.
Tourism is also increasing in the once tiny town. Ruge said the Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues increased by 20.5 percent from 2012 to 2013. The city also issued four film permits and distributed 2,000 Buda information bags at the Formula 1 race.
Buda’s public library is on the discussion list to create a building plan for a new or expanded building to meet the city’s population growth projections.
Despite the higher-than-expected revenue in 2013, Ruge noted that a November bond election is under discussion to fund more of Buda’s Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). A wish list of projects would exceed $70 million. The council will likely whittle that amount down to something in the range of $30 million.
In February, the council voted to establish a bond advisory committee. The city also hired local firm Gap Strategies to consult on bond facilitation. Part of the next four months of planning and discussion will include public input meetings on the bond.
