Election
BY KAMERYN GRIESSER
While many choose to live among West Austin’s scenic hills to get away from the city, longtime residents of the Lost Creek neighbor- hood had no choice—until now. On May 4, Lost Creek residents will be able to vote on whether to stay within Austin’s extra- territorial jurisdiction or leave to become an independent township once again. If the neighborhood votes to disannex, some city fees and public services, such as police, fire and trash pickup, would change. Two-minute impact Prior to state legislation passed in 2017, large cities in Texas could forcibly annex nearby townships to bolster their tax base. Lost Creek, a West Austin neighborhood with a population of about 1,200 residents, was added to Austin city limits in 2015, after the bill was first introduced. Lobbyists began working with Texas lawmak- ers who eventually passed House Bill 3053 last year, requiring large cities to hold disannexation elections for areas that were recently added. On Feb. 1, Austin City Council called elections for 783 acres of Lost Creek and five other areas in Austin’s ETJ, putting the decision up to residents on whether to remain or disannex. Why it matters If disannexation is successful, city staff said Lost Creek residents to vote on leaving Austin
Area up for disannexation Lost Creek
Potential service changes If approved, residents of Lost Creek could see the following changes, according to county and city sources:
Travis County law enforcement would replace the Austin Police Department services
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BARTON CREEK BLVD.
The Westlake Fire Department would replace Austin Fire Department services
BARTON CREEK WILDERNESS PARK
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Trash pickup and services would likely return to a private company
Austin Code Enforcement, zoning authority and short-term rental limitations would go away
that the remaining Austin taxpayers could see a marginal increase to their tax burden. Lost Creek residents would also have to pay Austin taxes until local shares of city debt are paid off, which is estimated to take about two years. Additionally, this bill is the first of its kind in Texas history, as no area has ever successfully disannexed from a city due to the lengthy and expensive legal process required, said James Quintero, a Policy Director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation. What residents are saying Since joining the city of Austin’s ETJ, Lost Creek residents have voiced concerns about decreased service levels to their neighborhood and higher taxes. Longtime Lost Creek resident Leslie Odom said she joined the fight for disannexation after her car had been broken into twice in the same week. Odom said she was disappointed with the lack of response from the Austin Police Department. “I looked at my child and thought in that moment ‘I need change,’” said Odom, who helps lead the Lost Creek Neighborhood Association. Prior to annexation, the Travis County Sheriff
Austin Transportation and Public Works would no longer be responsible for maintaining roads
Austin-Travis County EMS services would continue
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
department had a substation by Lost Creek Park. Now, without their presence, Odom said she and other residents have noticed an uptick in crime. Disannexation from Austin’s ETJ would place Lost Creek back under Travis County’s jurisdiction for law enforcement. What happens next? Residents will head to the polls starting April 22 to cast their votes. Ryan Brannan, a state lobbyist who leads the Save Lost Creek PAC, said he has collected over 1,000 petition signatures in favor of withdrawal and believes the disannex- ation vote is likely to pass.
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