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Planning | Annexation of Greatwood and New Territory

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1. What is annexation?

In the State of Texas, a local government code defines a city’s rights and responsibilities regarding properties within its boundaries and the area immediately surrounding its boundaries (called extra-territorial jurisdiction). Full – Purpose annexation is the act of incorporating the City’s extra-territorial jurisdiction into the geographical boundaries and identity of the annexing political entity. In short, annexation is a way for cities to grow, and enables both residents and the respective City to benefit from the expansion in tax base and population.

2. My address is Sugar Land already, doesn’t that mean I’m already in the city?

Oftentimes, the postal address is used only for mailing purposes and although your neighborhood may have a Sugar Land address, this does not always identify the entity in which jurisdiction you reside.

3. What are the benefits of annexation for Greatwood and New Territory residents?

With the annexation into the City of Sugar Land, residents of the Greatwood and New Territory communities will be entitled to receive municipal services, voting privileges, and tax benefits offered by the City of Sugar Land. Future residents will see benefits from the annexation such as:

• Ability to serve on boards/commission. Residents are encouraged to participate in the governance in the City.


• Infrastructure maintained by the City (sidewalks, roadways, etc...)


• Property safeguards through zoning, code enforcement, and building and construction permits.


• Property safeguards protect the property value of homeowners by not allowing undesirable uses into your respective communities and reducing property values


• Fire prevention, protection, and educational services


• Community oriented policing/beat management


• Inclusion into the City of Sugar Land’s Police Department’s purview will allow residents to take part in our special/unique programs such as: Citizen’s Police Academy, Safe Light Sugar Land, and our Crime Prevention Officer’s program.


• Property tax bill reduction will depend upon which MUD you reside in. The City’s tax rate is $0.31595 and the City offers a 10 percent homestead exemption and an additional $70,000 exemption for disabled and over-65 residents. Residents in 7 of the 9 districts will see overall annual savings when these costs are taken into account.

4. What are the benefits of annexation for current residents?

With the annexation of Greatwood and New Territory, and expected expansion of the City’s tax base, both future and current residents will gain benefits in the additional revenue gained to help fund City projects. As this annexation has been planned to have a net neutral impact to the City’s finances, no City taxes will be used to implement annexation.

5. When will new residents be able to participate in City elections?

The first election will be in May of 2018 for the Mayoral and at-large elections. District specific elections are expected to take place in May 2019.

6. When will council-member districts be determined?

Redistricting of Single Member City Council Districts is a work in progress. It should be noted that this process is expected to be completed before the end of 2018, in order to allow appropriate time for potential candidates to prepare their respective campaigns. At the time of annexation, however, residents will be temporarily assigned to Single Member Council Districts. The annexation ordinance provides that New Territory will temporarily be placed within City Council District 2, the Council District adjacent to the New Territory community. In addition, Greatwood will temporarily be placed within City Council District 4.

7. The City is increasing by 30 percent but only increasing staff by 10 percent. How is the City able to serve its new residents with a 10 percent increase in its workforce?

The City has planned to add 74.5 full time equivalent positions which is a 10% increase in workforce. Some positions are being added now, and some will be added in October 2017, just prior to annexation. While the 10% increase may seem low compared to a 34% increase in population, remember that the City already provides fire protection to these areas, so minimal additions are needed in the fire department. The City will only be replacing the county EMS unit at fire station #6 with Sugar Land firefighter/paramedics, and only needs to add 7 positions to staff this ambulance 24/7/365. The Police Department will be expanding coverage by creating a sixth beat and adding 21 certified officers. This being said, not all City departments will have a direct impact based on annexation. Departments such as Human Resources, Finance, Airport, Planning, Permits and Inspections will only have minimal or indirect impacts related to annexation, and will not require additional staffing to maintain its current service levels.

8. Did residents have a choice about whether to be annexed?

Prior to the adoption of the SPAs, the City held public hearings for each SPA on October 2, 2007 and October 16, 2007. During the public meetings three members spoke regarding the annexation of Greatwood and New Territory. None that spoke were in opposition of the annexation, however one expressed the desire for extensive communication with Greatwood regarding the annexation. In addition to the City Council hearings, each MUD held public hearings on the issue, as required by statute.

The terms and conditions of the annexation were determined by a vote of the City of Sugar Land City Council, as well as both Municipal Utility District’s Board Members for their representative districts.

9. How do I contact the City?

Current and future residents can find contact information for City departments by clicking the following link Contact Us. For inquiries regarding annexation, residents can contact the City via the following email address: annexation@sugarlandtx.gov.

10. What form of government does Sugar Land utilize?

Sugar Land functions under a council-manager form of government. The City Council performs a legislative role, setting broad goals and policies that match the vision of our residents. The City Manager is the Chief Administrative Officer, and manages the day to day business of the City in order to reach the goals set forth by City Council. The City of Sugar Land has a total of seven City Council Members, with four Districts. At the time of annexation, residents will be temporarily assigned to Single Member Council Districts. Residents within New Territory will temporarily be placed in City Council District 2, while residents residing in Greatwood will temporarily be placed within City Council District 4. Current Sugar Land City Council Members and positions are identified below.

1. Joe Zimmerman, Mayor

2. Himesh Gandhi, At-Large Position One

3. Mary Joyce, At-Large Position Two

4. Steve Porter, Single Member District One

5. Bridget Yeung, Single Member District Two

6. Amy Mitchell, Single Member District Three

7. Carol K. McCutcheon, Single Member District Four

11. How do I learn about what’s happening in Sugar Land?

The City of Sugar Land utilizes multiple communication tools to keep members of the Sugar Land community aware of events and programs occurring within the City. Residents can download the official City of Sugar Land mobile app here: MySugarLand. Residents can opt to receive monthly email newsletters here: E-News Report. At the time of annexation, Greatwood and New Territory residents will have the ability to join the City’s Blackboard Connect information system. Blackboard Connect is a leading provider of mass notification services, and allows the City to send thousands of messages at a time, communicating emergency information, as well as non-emergency information to both residents, and City of Sugar Land employees.

The social media outreach from the City of Sugar Land aims to engage and inform the community through distribution of City news releases, media alerts, emergency and urgent City service notifications, City events, and general Sugar Land information. Current social media channels include the following:

1. Facebook - Official City Page
2. Facebook - Parks & Recreation
3. Facebook - Police Department
4. Visit Sugar Land
5. Twitter
6. YouTube
7. Instagram
8. Pinterest

12. Will Greatwood and New Territory receive the same level of services?

Yes, the Greatwood and New Territory communities will receive the same level of services offered to all residents within the City’s full-purpose jurisdiction. City staff has followed three principles as a guide for all annexation planning, analysis and budgeting:

• Municipal services in the annexed areas must be provided to the same level of service currently provided within the City;
  
• Providing municipal services to the annexed areas cannot result in any decrease in the level of service currently provided within the City; and
  
• The annexed areas must generate revenues sufficient to pay for services within the annexed areas so that current City residents, ratepayers and/or taxpayers do not experience any cost increases because of the annexation.
  

13. After annexation will Greatwood and New Territory residents still be required to pay for the costs to repair sidewalks?

No. Sidewalk repairs are handled by the city’s sidewalk rehabilitation program at no additional cost to residents. Through an annual sidewalk condition assessment, coupled with resident requests, sidewalks are identified and prioritized for repair or replacement based on the program’s evaluation criteria. Repair work is done by city staff or a vendor.

Residents can sign up for road closure and service interruption notifications caused by city construction and maintenance projects or receive updates on the city's Facebook page.

14. Will my taxes increase with the annexation? Will I still have to pay MUD and LID taxes?

Upon annexation, residents of Greatwood and New Territory will no longer pay MUD taxes. The MUD tax will be replaced with the City’s property tax rate which is currently 0.31595.

Dependent upon the District, residents will see an increase or decrease in taxes once the City levies its tax in 2018. The LIDs will not be impacted by the annexation, and residents are still obligated to pay their LID taxes.

15. I currently have a homestead exemption and over-65 exemption filed through the FB Appraisal District. Do I have to file new exemptions upon the date of annexation??

No. Residents do not need to file new exemptions to get the City's homestead and over-65 exemptions. Any exemptions on file with the appraisal district will automatically be applied to the City's tax bill in 2018.

16. Will students currently zoned in Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, be rezoned into those schools that are in Fort Bend Independent School District?

No. The annexation of the Greatwood and New Territory communities will have no impact on school zoning. As the City of Sugar Land is not the governing entity of these schools, those students that are zoned within Lamar Consolidated ISD will remain zoned to the appropriate schools as dictated by your respective Independent School Districts.

17. Does annexation into the City provide additional options to the Greatwood and New Territory communities for internet and/or cable service providers?

No. Internet, cable, and phone providers are not regulated by the City, and the City does not determine which providers operate within the City’s jurisdiction.