Sugar Land City Council approved an annexation date for Greatwood and New Territory on Tuesday after nine years of planning. Effective Dec. 12, 2017, the two communities will become part of the city of Sugar Land, adding at least 29,633 people and 3,850 acres to its jurisdiction.

Upon annexation, Greatwood and New Territory’s nine municipal utility districts will dissolve, and the city will provide all utility services. Annexation will mean an approximately 30 percent population increase for Sugar Land.

In addition to adopting a date for the move, council also adopted an amendment to the fiscal year 2016-17 budget to cover costs associated with annexation. Because the city has to provide the same level of service to its new residents as is already provided to current residents, measures must be taken in advance, Sugar Land Finance Director Jennifer Brown said.

“The budget amendment … will provide funding to acquire vehicles and equipment necessary, along with hiring personnel that need training, to be able to be placed in a service prior to annexation,” she said.

The amendment cost $4.2 million in general fund expenditures and will cover additional resources for departments including police, public works, fire and emergency medical services, and finance.

The city’s debt-reduction fund will cover costs of the general fund expenditures until property tax revenue generated by Greatwood and New Territory can be collected in FY 2018-19, Brown said. Meanwhile, a $684,468 amendment to the water and utilities budget will be funded by the city’s utilities fund, Brown said.

Council members expressed their support for the move and applauded city staff for working on annexation preparations.

“We look forward to having you guys be part of Sugar Land,” Mayor Joe Zimmerman said. “I know it’s been a long journey.”