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  Photo: Katherine Romans
  Special Purpose Districts, MUDs and WCIDs
  Development oriented special purpose districts like MUDs & WCIDs are useful tools to meet infrastructure demands where there is no municipal authority in place. They provide needed framework for the governance, construction and maintenance of water utility infrastructure and roads. These districts are created legislatively or through a petition to the TCEQ and have broad authority to collect taxes and incur debt with limited accountability; however, the creation process is invisible and not open to the neighbors who will be affected by the new development.
  The Texas Senate Research Center researched and published a Research Spotlight Paper titled Invisible Government: Special Purpose Districts in Texas that very thoroughly details all of the special purpose district varieties in the State of Texas from Arts & Entertainment Districts to Wind Erosion Districts. The special purpose districts that govern water are discussed beginning on page nine.
  Recent Community Meetings and Updates
  More than 100 Hill Country residents tuned in online and in person at the Gem of the Hills on April 6th to learn about municipal utility districts (MUDs), water control & improvement districts (WCIDs) and other governmental subdivisions that facilitate growth in unincorporated areas.
  HCA is involved in community dialogue surrounding MUDs and WCIDs across the Hill Country. Recently, HCA and Protect Our Blanco co-sponsored an educational event in Blanco to help prepare our elected officials and Blanco citizens for growth and the arrival of MUDs. Blanco MUD#1 is proposed for just south of the City of Blanco, and will bring 1,000 new homes, commercial development and parking areas. This event was the first public gathering meant to provide more information on how concerned citizens can get involved.
  Interested community members are encouraged to review the powerpoint presentation and watch the recorded zoom meeting to learn more from our featured speakersWhile we all know that growth can be good and is inevitable, we also know that if it's not managed effectively we are endangering our precious community. MUDs can foster rapid subdivision development with severe impacts on our community's finances, natural resources, and quality of life.
  Click here to access or download the slides used during the April 6, 2021 meeting.
  MUDs and WCIDs: An Introduction by Milan Michalec
  Blanco County MUD Webinar + Live Event: April 6, 2021
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