Hutto looks at ESD, Emory Crossing
HUTTO — City Council members don’t often agree when it comes to financial matters, but during the Sept. 18 meeting they showed solidarity on a pair of issues arising out of executive session.
The first was a dispute with Emergency Services District No. 3 – Hutto Fire Rescue over the share of sales taxes paid through an interlocal agreement.
The second matter revolved around an amendment to the Emory Crossing development agreement Regarding the first issue, the council unanimously approved City Attorney Dorothy Palumbo’s request to allow staff to notify the ESD that even though they were going to cash a check the city received from the district, the municipality still wants to collect the balance owed to the city.
“We made the demand for $800,193.56. They paid the check that we’re holding, $480,116.14. The balance that we believe they owe us is $489,446.32, but this only gets up to February of this year. So going forward from February we need to do a true-up of what they need to pay us. And then the agreement says they pay us on a regular basis and they’re not doing that,” Palumbo told the council.
ESD 3 collects sales tax on areas outside the city limits. Since 2023 it has had an agreement to give Hutto 60% of sales-tax collections from properties annexed into the city. The agreement has been at the center of a long-standing dispute between the Fire Department and the city, according to Mayor Mike Snyder.
“The whole purpose of splitting the sales tax is to lessen the burden of property tax. If we don’t get sales tax off this, literally what is the point of growing the city? It would just stop growing because there’s no benefit,” Snyder said.
He added the city is still responsible for providing roads, water, wastewater and police service for annexed properties even while receiving less money.
When contacted, Assistant Fire Chief Robert Bocanegra said he had not yet heard from the city so he could not comment.
The second funding dispute involved a requested amendment to the Emory Crossing development agreement. Palumbo said the developer is arguing they fulfilled their obligations by conducting a trafficimpact analysis, and they have no further duties to put in any of the requirements indicated by the analysis.
As part of the subdivision, the builder created a road connecting Ed Schmidt Boulevard to FM 1660. The Texas Department of Transportation is requiring them to add a deceleration lane or turn lane off 1660 into the development. The developer submitted an amendment proposal to use the community benefit fee they agreed to pay the city for the road improvements instead.
“We wouldn’t need any of these improvements if they hadn’t built their road. That should be on them in my opinion. And the community benefit fee should go to the community, not back to the developer to make the improvements that they created a need for,” City Engineer Matt Rector told council members.
Those on the dais agreed with Rector and voted unanimously to deny the developers’ request.
Veterans Memorial dedication Saturday
The new Hutto Veterans Memorial, 500 West Live Oak St., will be dedicated 11 a.m. Sept. 27. It was built at a cost of $556,853 across from the fountain west of City Hall.
The city received $100,000 from Williamson County’s recreation fund to help with the expense.
The memorial includes monuments honoring all military branches, as well as seating, landscape, irrigation and lighting. Local veterans and the Richard A. Oman American Legion Post 302 were consulted on the project.
Hutto to host police training
The Capital Area Planning Council of Governments has awarded a grant to the city which will pay for a 10-month basic peace officer course. The grant covers the cost of training and the city’s only responsibility will be to bill CAPCOG per an agreed-upon fee schedule.
The city previously hosted the academy twice. During those times, Hutto officers worked as instructors to pay for sworn personnel to attend the school.
This time, Hutto will receive about $85,000 to administer the program and CAPCOG will also pay the salaries of the instructors and the cost of facilities. The academy can accommodate up to 32 cadets.
This will be a nighttime session in December.
