Little bits of big news
Water restrictions update
HUTTO — It’s that time of year when the water utility providers begin asking customers to lower their usage. The city of Hutto implemented Stage 2 water conservation on Friday. Jonah Water Special Utility District implemented Stage 3 on Monday.
Manville Water Supply Corporation is continuing the mandatory seasonal watering policy it implemented on May 1, which allows for twice a week outdoor watering.
All three utilities have assigned specific days and hours for outdoor watering.
Use of water for nonessential activities such as washing buildings and sidewalks or flushing gutters is prohibited by all three utilities while drought contingency plans are in effect, but details of what is allowed vary.
Violations of watering restrictions are enforceable by fines and potential loss of water service.
Properties that use private well water are exempt from restrictions, including The Co-op District, Hutto City Hall, Riverwalk soccer fields and some school properties. Detailed information about each utility provider’s restrictions can be found on the their websites.
Residents who would like to report a suspected violation of Hutto’s Stage 2 rules can submit a complaint using the Water Conservation Violation form on the city’s online Citizen Request Tracker.
$1.5 billion in projects discussed
On Saturday, City Council and staff members held a special called meeting to discuss the city’s capital improvement projects. The list of projects identified as needed or wanted over the next six years totaled $1,570,397,388 spread over fiscal years 2024 through 2029.
The list of projects included more than $488 million in transportation, $527 million in wastewater, $291 million in water, $112 million in parks and $150 million in buildings and facilities.
Council members discussed moving, delaying or omitting several of the projects in order to lower the total.
If passed as originally presented, the plan would increase property taxes by 12% in 2025 and 30% each year for the following four years.
Mayor Mike Snyder said in a social media post after the meeting that the changes council asked staff to make may lower the 30% increases to the 20% range.
“I’ve been preaching that we are headed towards massive increases in our tax bills. The increases to me, are staggering,” Snyder posted. “I’m all for parks. But not now. We can’t afford $10,000,000 for a park. I’m all for the (Hutto Police Department). But we can’t afford $53,000,000 for a new Justice Center. I love the library. But we can’t afford the $10,419,000 for one.”
“This isn’t a locked plan for five years,” said Mayor Pro Tem Peter Gordon. “What we’re really writing in stone is one year, 2025, with a best guess for the others. Every year we’re going to go through that.”
The city has scheduled Aug. 10 and Aug. 24 for budget workshops and Sept. 5 for the public hearing on the budget.
New city secretary
Laura Hallmark has been sworn in as the new Hutto city secretary. She replaces Amanda Taylor who assumed the role of interim city secretary in May.
Hallmark’s duties will include improving public access to municipal records and enhancing public participation in the municipal government process in coordination with the city manager’s office. Her responsibilities will also include safekeeping of all official city records, coordinating elections and issuing alcoholic beverage permits.
