The city's “magnificent seven” projects will ease the tax burden of Hutto residents, City Manager Odis Jones said. “A city that’s all residential, is not really sustainable,” Jones said in a news release. “It puts a lot of tax burden on residents. We need to be able to increase our tax base, so we can provide more of the things that are important to residents—public safety, good schools, roads and infrastructure—without raising taxes every year." For the second year in a row, the city hopes to set a lower tax rate than the year before. The next fiscal year budget and the tax rate information will be presented at the Thursday Hutto City Council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. A 6 p.m. special meeting will be held to discuss outside agency funding applications. Jones, who announced the developments of Innovation Business Park and the Gin at the Co-op in his first six months as city manager, has brought other changes to staff and administration. The latest moves have included City Council's restructuring of the Hutto Economic Development Corporation. A Type B fund was formed and a board of directors named. Those directors replaced the seven members of the Type A board by City Council vote, and President/CEO Tim Chase was released through a separation agreement Monday night. At the Monday meeting, Jones told the Economic Development Corporation boards the city may consider two business transactions this week with possible action by City Council at the Aug. 17 meeting. Those projects may be added to the seven goals outlined by the city: 1.    Providing spec light industrial park space throughout the Innovation Business Park 2.    Developing the Co-op into a mixed-use entertainment district 3.    Developing downtown Hutto 4.    Repositioning the city’s variable rate water assets with a goal of stabilizing rates for residents 5.    Purchasing and developing a park that connects to the regional park system in Williamson County 6.    Investing in infrastructure and public safety through a streets and drainage program 7.    Ensuring a vibrant economic base for the city’s future by investing in infrastructure for key growth corridors over the next 20 years. “Right now, we are on the edge of some unprecedented growth, and that can be a little scary for some folks,” Jones said. “It means bringing bold ideas and innovative solutions, and balancing them with the small-town feel everyone wants to keep. That’s hard, but I think we can do it, and I know it’s going to pay off in the end. Hutto is going to keep getting stronger and better and I can’t wait to see it.” Some initiatives Jones has driven since becoming city manager in December are included on Thursday’s agenda. City Council members will: ·      Address the budget and tax rate ·      Discuss and possibly take action on amendments to the Unified Development Code ·      Discuss and possibly take action to repeal the SmartCode in its entirety and incorporate the mixed-use development regulations into the United Development Code ·      Discuss and possibly take action on the 2018-2022 Capital Improvements Plan ·      Discuss and possibly take action on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan ·      Discuss and possibly take action on the city’s annexation plan. Jennifer D. Atkinson of the city of Hutto contributed to this report.