Bastrop, Tx–When city voters pick three new council members May 9, they may also be asked to decide other issues, including a potential new source of funding for additions to Bastrop’s water supplies.
The suggestion surfaced Feb. 10 at a city council meeting when Council Member Julie Hart suggested tapping the city’s economic development funds to help pay for development of new water wells on the West bank of the Colorado River, a project already underway. State law allows some municipal economic development corporations funded by a half-cent sales tax to spend funds for water system improvements, said city attorney J.C. Brown. To make that possible in Bastrop’s case, city voters would have to approve a change in the rules which govern the Bastrop Economic Development Corp., said Brown.
Hart said using some BEDC money for expanding the city’s water supply could ease the burden on city water customers. In approving the present plan for developing new water supplies and making related improvements, the council previously adopted an approach calling for raising water rates by 10 percent a year for five years, beginning in 2008. If carried out as projected, that would mean a boost of 61 percent in water rates over five years, said Hart.
BEDC President Joe Newman said the city agency currently operates with a budget of some $1.2 million a year and holds a reserve fund of some $1.7 million.
Brown said the issue could go to local voters on the May 9 city ballot.
Previously the council has also suggested some changes in the city’s home rule charter could also be on the May ballot. The content of possible charter changes has not been discussed in public so far.
Three veteran city council members will leave their seats after May 9. Willie DeLaRosa, Dock Jackson and Terry Sanders are not eligible for re-election this year because of a term-limits provision in the Bastrop home rule charter adopted in 2002.