Infrastructure, public safety and historical preservation efforts are top priorities in the proposed city of Hutto fiscal year 2019-20 budget, according to Hutto City Manager Odis Jones. Jones presented his proposed budget for consideration to City Council July 26, citing efforts to meet citizens' demands for further growth and expansion through upcoming infrastructure and development projects approved in the November 2018 bond election. The proposed budget as presented July 26 totals around $81 million. Encompassed within the budget, Jones proposed raising the city's property tax rate from 61.5 cents per $100 valuation to the rollback rate of 67.6 cents per $100 valuation. A rollback rate is the maximum tax rate above the effective tax rate an entity can set into motion without calling for a public vote. Jones said by using the balance accumulated by the rollback rate, the city will be able to continually work on and complete projects outlined in the November 2018 bond election, alongside other city-wide revitalization efforts. Hutto has the third highest compound annual growth rate in the state of Texas, according to data compiled by the Texas Municipal Advisory Council of Texas and the Texas Comptroller’s Office. As major development projects come to the city and its population continually increases, Jones said the city must be proactive in keeping up with citizen demands. “I believe in being pro-business," Jones told Community Impact Newspaper July 26. "I believe in growth. That’s one of the reasons Hutto has been growing since I’ve been here.” Part of the revenue, some 21 cents of the overall rate, raised through the higher tax rate will go toward the city's interest and sinking funding, which is used to pay off a debt or a bond, according to Hutto's Chief Financial Officer Michel Sorrell. The focal points of the proposed budget, Jones said, encompass the areas of public safety, park improvements and streets and drainage improvements. Jones specifically acknowledged the growth and expansion of the city's police department and the need for resources and staffing to follow accordingly. The general fund revenue budget—which includes services such as police, public works, development services and parks and recreation—is proposed at $19.5 million, an increase from last year's $15.3 million price tag. Capital improvement projects highlighted under the city's street and drainage construction fund are projected at $46.1 million. Outside of the city's projected bond project costs and regulatory services, Jones said he wants to include Project History—a citizens-led proposal to renovate one of the city's historic district homes into a museum and new Chamber of Commerce facility—as part of the 2019-20 budget. “I think anytime citizens get behind an effort, it’s a powerful thing," Jones said. The city will hold two public hearings regarding both the city's budget and tax rate at its August 15 and August 22 meetings. The finalized budget and tax rate will be approved in late September and officially go into effect October 1.