What is a "MUD and what is its purpose?
"MUD" stands for "Municipal Utility District". The MUD's purpose is to provide water, sewer, and drainage facilities for the areas within its boundaries. Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 285 ("MUD 285") will provide water and sewer services to its customers until the City of Houston annexes MUD 285 and assumes this function.
What are "bonds" and what is the purpose of selling bonds?
MUD's sell bonds to fund the cost to construct water, sewer, and drainage facilities to serve their customers and/ or to reimburse developers who paid for the cost to construct water, sewer, and drainage facilities.
What bonds have been issued by MUD 285?
See attached information.
Why does MUD 285 need additional authorization from the voters to sell bonds?
Additional bonds will be needed to fund the cost of constructing water, sewer, and drainage facilities to serve land to be annexed to MUD 285. MUD 285 is currently adding 143 acres of land and plans to add an additional 460 if the voters authorize MUD 285 to sell additional bonds to fund water, sewer, and drainage costs.
Why is annexation important?
Increasing the size of MUD 285 will expand the property to be taxed by MUD 285, which could reduce the amount of taxes paid by each taxpayer. MUD 285 currently contains over 150 acres of non-taxable land owned by Galena Park Independent School District.
Why is the District annexing additional land?
When the District was created, it contained approximately 367 of land, all of which was taxable. Since then, Galena Park Independent School District (1 non-taxable entity) purchased over 150 acres of land. The tax burden was left to the remaining 217 acres (59% of the total District acreage). Annexing additional taxable land will increase the percentage of taxable acreage in the District to 85%
Who can vote in the bond election?
Any registered voter living in MUD 285 can vote.
Do we need to pass the next bond election?
The success or failure of the bond election will be a "compass" for all prospective developers in MUD 285. The outcome of the election depends on the voters in MUD 285.
Does Harris County MUD 285 have online bill pay?
Aqua services opened our website in mid-March (www.aquaserviceshouston.com). The site is currently under construction and we are looking into incorporating direct on-line bill paying. Currently, any customer whose bank offers on-line bill paying, which most do, simply need give their bank their water bill information, then each month enter only the amount of the bill via their home computer, or laptop. If away from home, and their bank will pay their bill.
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