Two state agencies will soon call the Buda Police Department’s Public Safety Building home.
On Feb. 5, the Buda City Council unanimously approved two interlocal agreements that gives office space to the Texas Department of Public Safety(DPS) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments (TP&W).
“We’ve relied on these resources from time to time and they’ve assisted us on numerous cases and vice versa.There is an understanding with them that at some point we’re not going to have extra office space and when we need it they’ll have to go.”
–Bo Kidd, Buda Police Chief
The effort allows the police department to occupy unused office space at Buda’s new Public Safety Building on E. Loop Street, which was approved by voters in the 2014 bond. The building is more than 14,000 square feet and was built for the projected growth of the city over the next 15 years, which is why some space is currently not used.
A Texas Ranger and Game Warden that service the Hays County area will occupy the office space for their respective agencies.
“I feel it is a win-win that gives us additional law enforcement and state resources if we need them,” Kidd said. “And the cost is minimal because the building is operational regardless if those offices are used or not.”
The cost to the city would be for the electricity of the office space for any administrative duties from the state officials. Buda Police officials confirmed the agencies will not pay rent for the office space.
However, Kidd said the Texas Ranger and Game Warden typically work in the field, so the office will be utilized if any administrative duties need to be done.
“We’ve relied on these resources from time to time and they’ve assisted us on numerous cases and vice versa,” Kidd said. “There is an understanding with them that at some point we’re not going to have extra office space and when we need it they’ll have to go.”
Kidd said the department has called on the Texas Ranger to assist on cases in the past. Having those resources at the department would be beneficial to the city and police department, Kidd said.
Council member Ray Bryant said the initiative is a great benefit to the citizens and agencies involved.
“There is really no negative impact with having state resources readily available and the financial impact is very minimal,” Bryant said. “It also looks good on grant applications that we provide space to them as well--that can’t hurt.”
