Resident says Law Garden subdivision excluded from recent sales‑tax vote despite receiving city water

A resident representing Law Garden subdivision told the Budget Committee Aug. 25 that about 60 to 70 households there receive city water but were excluded from a recent city sales tax election because the subdivision is not annexed.

"I live in a Law Garden subdivision along with about, I guess, 60 to 70 other households, and, we get city water," the resident said. "We're not annexed, we don't wanna be annexed, but we get city water and there are city trucks out there all the time taking care of the ..."

The resident asked why their neighborhood was excluded and said they wanted to be included in the next election for voting on city measures even though they do not seek annexation.

Committee members explained that residents outside the city limits who receive city services do not automatically vote in city sales‑tax elections and do not pay the additional 1% city sales tax unless they are annexed or otherwise subject to the tax. A committee member said water provided outside city limits is billed at an outside rate and that the sales‑tax measure would not apply to households outside city limits unless they come into the city and pay the tax.

The chairman noted that William Jarrell would speak later in the budget portion about water issues.

The committee did not take formal action on the resident's request at the meeting; the item was raised during the public comment portion preceding the budget discussion.