CITY & COUNTY
News from Cedar Park, Leander, Austin & Williamson County
QUOTE OF NOTE
WilCo ups property tax exemptions for homeowners WILLIAMSON COUNTY Commissioners voted unan- imously in favor of increasing the general homestead property tax exemption as well as the exemptions for homeowners age 65-plus and homeowners with a disability during their May 17 meeting. BY CLAIRE SHOOP INCREASING EXEMPTIONS Williamson County commissioners voted to increase the property tax exemptions for all homeowners, those who are age 65 and older and those with a disability for the 2022 tax year.
CITY HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN Local nonprot Foundation Communities is WE ARE LIVING IN ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY PROSPEROUS REGIONS OF THE WORLD.” BILL GRAVELL, WILLIAMSON COUNTY JUDGE “WE’RE SEEING UNPRECEDENTED TAX BILLS BECAUSE raising $30 million to fund eight aordable housing communities over the next three years. The new communities—including one located near SH 45 N and US 183A Toll—will provide housing for those transitioning out of homelessness. CEDAR PARK & LEANDER Both cities have sworn in council members elected during the May 7 general election. This included Cedar Park’s new mayor, Jim Penniman-Morin, who previously served as Place 1 council member. Council is in the process of appointing someone More than $72 million from the American Rescue Plan Act will fund water and wastewater infrastructure in Williamson County, according to a plan approved by Commissioners Court on May 24. Among the proposed projects is a $5 million replacement of the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority Lake Travis water intake structure and $4 million for miscellaneous improvements in both Leander and Cedar Park. to ll the Place 1 vacancy. WILLIAMSON COUNTY Cedar Park City Council Meets June 23 at 7 p.m. at 450 Cypress Creek Road, Bldg. 4, Cedar Park • 512-401-5000 www.cedarparktexas.gov Leander City Council Meets June 16 and July 7 at 6 p.m. at 201 N. Brushy St., Leander 512-258-2743 • www.leandertx.gov Travis County Commissioners Court Meets June 14, 21 and 28 at 9 a.m. at 700 Lavaca St., Austin 512-854-9020 www.traviscountytx.gov Williamson County Commissioners Court Meets June 14, 21 and 28 at 9:30 a.m. at 710 S. Main St., Georgetown 512-943-1100 • www.wilco.org MEETINGS WE COVER
The greater of 1.5% or $5,000 The greater of 5% or $5,000 General exemption
Homeowners 65 and older
Homeowners with a disability
The motion, which passed with a vote of 4-0, increases the existing tax exemption for residents age 65 and older as well as residents with a disability to $125,000. The general home- stead property exemption was increased to 5% of assessed value or a minimum of $5,000. The increased exemptions will be in eect for the tax year beginning Jan. 1, 2022. This action comes after Williamson County voted last year to increase exemptions for residents age 65 and older to $90,000 and exemptions for residents with a disability to $75,000. In 2021, the court established the general home- stead property tax exemption at 1.5% or $5,000, whichever was greater. Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long, who spearheaded the eort to increase the exemptions, said this is the county’s opportunity to help reduce residents’ property tax burdens. Additionally, Long said she also expects the county to lower its tax rate during the budget cycle later this year. These exemptions only apply to taxes assessed by the
2021
$90,000
$75,000
2022
$125,000 $125,000
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
county. Residents in Williamson County also pay taxes to other entities, including school districts, cities, municipal utility districts and emergency services districts. Due to rising property values, County Judge Bill Gravell encouraged other entities with the ability to oer homestead exemptions to do so.
Cedar Park Fire Station No. 2 to be remodeled
Councils approve next phase in BCRUA water project
APPROVING BCRUA CONTRACTS All three cities approved the construction contract for the second phase of the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority deep- water intake project in May.
BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
CEDAR PARK On May 12, City Council approved a $498,200 construction agreement to remodel Cedar Park Fire Station No. 2. The remodeling of Station 2 will include the construction of additional bedrooms to accommodate stang needs, converting the training room to a day room and upgrading out- dated parts of the building. Construc- tion is expected to take 90 days. REMODELING REASONS Because Cedar Park Fire Station No. 2 has seen an increase in medical calls, the department is hiring additional employees and expanding the station to better accommodate them.
BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
CEDAR PARK & LEANDER Construction contracts for the second phase of the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority deep-wa- ter intake project have been approved by all involved cities. The project will help the resil- iency of the area’s water supply during droughts, Mike A. Huber, Cedar Park utility engineering manager, said during a May 26 City Council meeting. All three member cities of the BCRUA partnership—Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock—needed to agree on the contractor. The approved contract is a $224.78 million joint venture between Thalle Construction Co. and SAK Construction. Cedar Park approved the construction agreement May 26, pledging $65.09 million. Leander City Council approved the contract at a May 19 meeting, with its cost totaling $96.32 million. In March, BCRUA received six
Leander: May 19 Cedar Park: May 26 Round Rock: May 26
SOURCES: CITY OF CEDAR PARK, CITY OF LEANDER, CITY OF ROUND ROCK COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
project proposals from contractors. Thalle/SAK JV was the highest ranked rm with the lowest cost, Huber said. Cedar Park’s portion of the funding for construction costs will be provided through the State Water Improvement Fund for Texas, or SWIFT, which is included in the city’s scal year 2022 budget. The city of Leander will also be using SWIFT loan funds, which are approved in the current budget. The next phase of the deep-wa- ter intake project will take the daily water capacity from 32.5 million gallons to 144 million gallons, Huber said. Construction will take roughly ve years to complete.
Project cost: $498,200
N
SOURCE: CITY OF CEDAR PARKCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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