Update Wednesday 12:19 p.m.:

Following the approval of Proposition A by City of Hutto voters Tuesday night, the city's Economic Development Corporation Type B can now spend sales tax funds on a number of new development projects.

Hutto EDC Type B Chairman Bill Gravell Jr. praised the passage of Proposition A, the lone City of Hutto measure on last night's ballot.

"This is the most exciting thing that has happened in the City of Hutto," Gravell said Wednesday morning.

The passage of the ballot measure allows the Hutto EDC Type B to spend taxpayer funds on an expanded number of development investments, including land, buildings, restaurants, entertainment venues and more.

Hutto EDC Type B can now additionally invest taxpayer funds to attract retail businesses, which Gravell considers an important tool to provide job growth and diversify Hutto's economy.

"We’re excited with the possibility of retail. It provides jobs that we need for our young adults. It’s a win-win for the community – it provides services they want and provides full-time and part-time jobs," Gravell said.

Gravell reported that Hutto is currently in discussions with multiple movie theaters to bring a cineplex to the Gin at the Co-Op district site.

"I would expect in the next 90 to 120 days, assuming the board approves it, that we’d invest in a movie theater," Gravell said.

Update 10:24 p.m.:
With all precincts reporting, City of Hutto voters passed Proposition A by a vote of 309 to 126 Tuesday night.

City of Hutto officials praised voters for passing Proposition A, a measure to redirect sales tax funds for economic development to the Type B corporation instead of the previous Type A corporation.

"This is great news to keep Hutto going forward," said Hutto Mayor Doug Gaul.

"A year ago we changed our priorities to to grow the economic base, bring economic diversity and go from small business to commercial business. By voters passing this, it shows they believe [Hutto City Council is] doing the right thing."

Hutto City Manager Odis Jones also celebrated the proposition's success Tuesday night.

"I think it’s a new day for Hutto. Voters have spoken and given us a mandate that they expect their money to be taken care of appropriately," Jones said.

Both Gaul and Jones pointed to the new Gin at the Co-Op District development as an example of economic development that can now move forward with Type B corporation funding.

"This gives us a more robust tool that drives the direction that citizens have asked for. All those things contemplated in the entertainment district – the things citizens have asked us for – this [vote] gives us a tool to drive [Hutto] towards achieving that," Jones said.

A Type B economic development corporation can fund entertainment districts, retail spaces, restaurants and a slate of public safety and public maintenance projects. Additionally, Type B funds can be spent on land, buildings, infrastructure improvements and more.

Update 9:33 p.m.:

Voters in the City of Hutto tonight passed Proposition A, the lone city proposition on the ballot tonight. The measure releases sales tax funds for economic development to be disbursed in the Type B corporation instead of the previous Type A corporation.

Vote totals were 165 to 68 in favor of Proposition A, as of 9:33 p.m. These vote totals are not final and will be updated throughout the night.

Original post:
Early voting returns in the City of Hutto 2017 Special Election show voters passing Proposition A by a vote of 88 for the measure to 39 against the proposition.

This proposition allows the voter-approved sales tax funds for economic development to be disbursed in the Type B corporation instead of the Type A corporation.

Ballot Language

The abolition of the sales and use tax within the City of Hutto for the promotion and development of new and expanded business enterprises pursuant to Section 504.251, Texas Local Government Code, as amended, currently at the rate of one-half percent (0.5%); and the adoption, in the place of such abolished tax, of a local sales and use tax in the City of Hutto at the rate of one-half of one percent (0.5%) to be used for the promotion and development of new and expanded business enterprises and other public purposes pursuant to Section 505.251, Texas Local Government Code; all of which would result in no net increase in the sales and use tax collected by the City of Hutto.

Look here for more Community Impact Newspaper coverage of the November election.