Hutto-"Government Update" (sales, purchases, property tax)

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

There was an article in the March 9th edition of the Hutto paper by Katie Lamoureus, Editor that talked about an "issue that will appear on the ballot that many area residents may not be aware of."

There is a "proposed sales tax increase for areas outside of the Hutto city limits but within the ESD to help combat the rising costs of the growing population and other costs." *ESD-Emergency Services District

Right now they provide service for all areas in the city and outside the city if I understand this right.

The article states, "The ESD is a separate government entity and not part of the city of Hutto. The ESD proposed the tax to keep up with costs and demands of a growing city and surrounding areas."

What I don't understand is the article also states, "Although the proposed tax increase affects Hutto residents, citizens living inside the city limits won't vote on this sales tax increase. Only residents inside the ESD but outside the city limits will vote on the proposal."

Evidently those of us living in the city limits have been paying for the service they have received all this time but now want us to pay even more and then not even be able to vote on it? Does it mean our taxes are going up too or just a proposal for those outside city limits to start paying?

All I know is this: our taxes have done nothing but go UP since we moved here about seven years ago and I see no end in sight.

Is this a tax increase for those of us in the city limits too? If so, how can we get a tax increase without having a say?

[Trainwreck20]

I have not read the article, but and ESD funded by sales taxes sounds odd - they have always been funded by property taxes, in my (limited) experience. Is there already a line-item on your property tax assessment that addresses funding the ESD?

That would answer a lot of questions, potentially, or at least a place to start looking for answers. For one thing, if it really is a sales tax, Hutto is already at the state maximum (8.25%) and cannot raise the existing rate. I suppose they could 'reallocate it', though.

[Trainwreck20]

Tried (unsuccessfully) to find the article you reference. Do you have a link to it?

Anyway, I got the screen-shot from the Wm County appraisal web site for a property in downtown Hutto. It looks like there is currently a 0.1 percent property tax for the ESD. As it is a county tax, I would be very surprised if you do not get to vote on any changes to it.

I also found this article in the Hutto paper from last year:
http://www.thehuttonews.com/news/art...ba4318a56.html

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Yes, I looked for the article too...it would have save me some typing. It was from the March 9th paper. Thank you for the information so far.

From that article you posted I'm not clear. I really don't understand. The emergency service provides service for all of Williamson county but outside the city limits they haven't been paying for it?

Sorry, my brain is evidently incapacitated this morning. Well, some would argue I'm normally that way...

[CptnRn]

I found this...

Hutto Council approves additional funds for Williamson ESD No. 3 By Brenda YoungJanuary 25, 2016
Hutto City Council members authorized the payment of approximately $100,000 in additional funding to ESD No. 3 during a council meeting Jan. 21.

and

Hutto Fire Rescue to ask residents for more funding in May election Measure would lead to sales tax increase outside city limits By Brenda YoungMarch 2, 2016

Voters will decide on funding for district service upgrades and improvements for Hutto Fire Rescue, also known as Williamson County ESD No. 3, in May.
If voters approve the referendum, it will impose a 2 percent sales tax on items purchased outside the city limits, but within the ESD service area. This is in addition to the existing tax of $0.10 per $100 of assessed property value paid by all residents in ESD No. 3.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

From that article you posted I'm not clear. I really don't understand. The emergency service provides service for all of Williamson county but outside the city limits they haven't been paying for it?

not all of Williamson County.

ESD 3 (the one that Hutto is part of) is only a small part of Williamson.

https://maps.wilco.org/data/public/maps/esd/ESDs.pdf


Looks like they've been paying for it in property taxes, and may also start paying for it with sales taxes.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by Novacek

[...]
Looks like they've been paying for it in property taxes, and may also start paying for it with sales taxes.

Yup, that looks to be it. The reason the city residents would not vote on it, is because they would not be subject to the additional sales tax.

As an aside, does anyone know of any other ESDs that are funded by sales tax? I guess there probably are, but that just seems odd to me.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Originally Posted by Novacek

not all of Williamson County.

ESD 3 (the one that Hutto is part of) is only a small part of Williamson.

https://maps.wilco.org/data/public/maps/esd/ESDs.pdf


Looks like they've been paying for it in property taxes, and may also start paying for it with sales taxes.

When you say "they" you mean all of ESD 3? And, to clarify, the people outside of the city limits would now be paying the additional sales tax?


Let me get this straight. We are in the city limits, we pay the additional sales tax and property tax but the people that have been getting the service outside of the city limits have not been paying the additional sales tax?

Trying to wrap my feeble brain around this.

Thank you for the map Novacek and the articles Captn.

Also, to be clear on my part: the Hutto fire department does a fantastic job and it isn't hard for me to believe they need another station. The growth around here has been phenomenal.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

Let me get this straight. We are in the city limits, we pay the additional sales tax and property tax but the people that have been getting the service outside of the city limits have not been paying the additional sales tax?

No, those inside of the city limits have only been paying property taxes, no sales taxes. There can't be an additional sales tax for those inside the city limits, as Hutto's 2% takes you up to the limit.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

When you say "they" you mean all of ESD 3? And, to clarify, the people outside of the city limits would now be paying the additional sales tax?


Let me get this straight. We are in the city limits, we pay the additional sales tax and property tax but the people that have been getting the service outside of the city limits have not been paying the additional sales tax?

Trying to wrap my feeble brain around this.

Thank you for the map Novacek and the articles Captn.

Also, to be clear on my part: the Hutto fire department does a fantastic job and it isn't hard for me to believe they need another station. The growth around here has been phenomenal.

It looks like all residents of the 'district' (ESD3) have been paying 0.1 percent property tax for the district, regardless of inside or outside city limits.

If the new sales tax is used to fund the ESD, any purchases made outside the city limits (but in ESD3) will now pay an additional sales tax of 2%, while any purchases made inside the city limits will not be affected.

Or at least that is my take on it, since your personal residence will not determine whether you pay additional tax or not, only the point of sales....