Senate OKs bill allowing Lake Austin property owners to secede from city

[TexasTowelie]

The Texas Senate approved a bill Thursday that would pave the way for hundreds of Lake Austin shoreline properties to secede from the city of Austin to avoid paying city property taxes.

Senate Bill 659 from Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway, passed 18-12, with voting along party lines. Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, whose district encompasses all of the affected properties, voted against the bill.

SB 659 is aimed at lakefront properties that have been inside Austin city limits since the late 19th century but were given a city property tax exemption because city leaders at the time did not think it was possible to provide taxpayer-funded services to areas that were far from Austin's center.

In the decades since, those parts of Austin became home to some of the most valuable residential properties in Austin. A city report from 2019 showed their average value at $2.1 million.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/04/15/senate-passes-bill-allow-lake-austin-homes-secede/7239329002/

[ret5hd]

1. Can Austin refuse to provide water/sewer services?

[magicarpet]

2. The water source is likely well water,... sewage is likely septic systems.

Toll roads coming into town from the lake area ?

[TexasTowelie]

3. I don't believe that they had access to Austin's water system to begin with.

See the fourth paragraph from the end.

[Lithos]

4. They can rely on the County for police and Fire protection

I'm sure the increased delays in support will have an effect. City services extend to far more than just water/sewer. More so when criminals figure out they can game the system.



L-

[MichMan]

5. If cities can annex property , homeowners should be able to de annex