Hutto City Council approved a resolution on Feb. 5 setting costs and scheduling a public hearing for a proposed assessment tied to Improvement Area No. 2 of the Prairie Winds Public Improvement District, advancing a financing plan for infrastructure needed for the next phase of the development.
The details
Improvement Area No. 2 spans about 62 acres and is planned for 192 single-family homes, according to the city’s amended and restated service and assessment plan. The neighborhood includes a mix of 45-, 50- and 60-foot lots.
Planned public improvements include neighborhood streets and sidewalks, water and wastewater lines, drainage infrastructure, and a proportional share of improvements that benefit the broader Prairie Winds district.
City Finance Director Alberta Barrett said the resolution allows the city to publish required notices and hold a public hearing before any assessments are officially levied.
By the numbers
Annual assessment payments would vary by lot size but are designed to mirror the structure already in place for Improvement Area No. 1, according to the plan.
Depending on lot size, future Prairie Winds homeowners could pay roughly $29,000 to $42,000 per home in Public Improvement District assessments, spread over many years and paid in addition to regular property taxes.
Projected total assessments: $6.95 millionEstimated cost of authorized improvements: about $10.9 millionHomes planned: 192What council members said
Several council members raised concerns about homebuyer transparency, citing reports that some buyers and Realtors had difficulty obtaining clear disclosure documents explaining PID assessments and payoff options.
“That was really concerning to me,” council member Peter Gordon said. “When we developed this PID financing agreement, we made it clear we wanted to be ultra-transparent with homebuyers because they are paying the equivalent of a tax rate [three times higher.]”
Representatives from P3 Works, the PID administrator, said disclosure forms and assessment information are available through the administrator’s website, and developers said they would reinforce training and disclosure practices with builders and sales teams.
What’s next
The public hearing on levying assessments for Improvement Area No. 2 is now scheduled for March 12, with City Council expected to consider final approval of the assessment ordinance and the issuance of special assessment revenue bonds later in March.
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