Residents vote to keep Anderson Mill a limited district

Residents vote to keep Anderson Mill a limited district

Monday, 11 May 2009

AUSTIN — Anderson Mill will remain a limited district, following a majority vote in the May 9 elections to keep the neighborhood mostly west of Highway 183 under the control of an elected board.

The board acts as the governing body of the district and has the ability to tax residents for the purpose of maintaining parks and trails, solid waste oversight and deed restriction. Currently those services are not done by the City of Austin, which – following the partial annexation of the district into the city – provides residents with fire and police protection services.

The measure to remain a limited district passed with 65.59 percent of the votes. More than 1,500 people voted on the issue, which has been a contentious one for residents living there.

Supporters of keeping the district have said that it gives residents control of parks and pools in the area, which they said they can better maintain than if the city was caring for them. But opponents have said that keeping the district adds an additional tax burden because the board would have to levy a tax on residents to maintain those parks. Had residents voted against the proposal, the city would maintain those parks for free.

For more information, visit http://impactnews.com/vote09/austin.