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THE BIG PICTURE
(City of Buda Weekly Newsletter)
Week of Jan. 18, 2021
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In this Issue:
- Community Survey Results
- Hays County COVID-19 Vaccine Update
- Hays County Judge Facebook Live Updates
- Rising COVID-19 Hospitalizations Trigger Capacity Limit Rollbacks in Hays County
- How to Sign Up for A COVID-19 Vaccine in Texas
- Beware of COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
- Curative COVID-19 Testing Still Available in Buda and Hays County
- Guidance for Paying Property Tax Bill when Protesting Appraisal
- Hays County Draft Transportation Plan
- Plant, Seed, Transplant, Prune, Compost
- YMCA Reset Challenge
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City of Buda Holiday Activities Survey - Survey Open Until Jan. 31
- Christmas Tree Recycling
- City of Buda Annual Sewer Averaging
- Water Smart Customer Portal
- Give Your Irrigation System A Break
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Stage 1 Water Restrictions - Effective Monday, Aug. 24
- COVID-19 Hays County Resources
- COVID-19 Hotline
- COVID-19 Dashboard
- COVID-19 Updates on City of Buda Website
- Online/Phone Options for Court Defendants
- Pay By Phone Automated System
- City of Buda E-Billing
- City of Buda Job Opportunities
- Upcoming Meetings
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In December 2020, the City Council was given the results of the 2020 Resident Survey. The City worked with Texas State University’s Center for Public Policy, Research, and Training to conduct the survey. The survey, which included both a print and web option, was distributed to a sample of 2,000 randomly selected Buda residences. A web survey was also made available for anyone wanting to provide input. The results of the open web survey were consistent with the results of the sample survey distributed to randomly selected households. Based on the response rate, the survey statistics are scientifically valid, meaning that the results reflect an accuracy of 95% of household views with a margin of error of +/- 5%.
Surveying allows the City to hear feedback on the programs and services it offers and to gauge interest and support for new projects and initiatives. It provides valuable data to help the City improve services and budget based on the needs of the residents.
We have provided the full survey below, along with an abbreviated version presented to City Council in December.
Buda 2020 Citizen Survey Full Report
City of Buda 2020 Resident Survey Abbreviated
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The much-anticipated rollout of the Hays County COVID-19 vaccine is set to begin soon, though County officials caution the pace will be slow at first. The Hays County Local Health Department (HCLHD) is awaiting a shipment of 1,950 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) designated Hays County as a vaccine hub over the weekend. The HCLHD received an emailed letter late Saturday evening with news of the change; HCLHD was not on the state’s initial hub list.
Over the past several weeks, the health department and the County’s Emergency Operations Office have been preparing to distribute the vaccine based on the DSHS rollout plan. Without having the doses in hand, however, implementation is on hold.
“Once the vaccine shipment arrives, the wheels can begin moving, albeit at a baby-steps pace,” Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said.
He cautioned that the initial rollout phase is constrained, due to a limited quantity of the vaccine and that demand far exceeds supply at this point in time.
Health Department Director Tammy Crumley said the only individuals who should receive a vaccine at this time are those who are eligible based on DSHS rules for the rollout in Phase 1A and 1B. She added that with the expected quantity of only 1,950 doses, Hays County residents will still have to be patient until more vaccine shipments arrive.
Once Hays County receives the shipment, those who qualify under the Phase 1A and 1B criteria per DSHS will be able to use an online portal to make an appointment. That portal will not be live until the vaccines arrive. (We will share the information on how to sign up through Hays County when that information becomes available.)
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Hays County Judge Facebook Live Updates |
Each Friday at 1 p.m. Hays County officials will host a FB Live session to provide the most updated info on COVID-19 and vaccinations. They will also answer questions (posted in the app during the live session).
Tune in to stay up-to-date.
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Rising COVID-19 Hospitalizations Trigger Capacity Limit Rollbacks in Hays County |
New restrictions are now in effect in Hays County after seven consecutive days of rising COVID-19 hospitalizations. As outlined in State Executive Orders GA-31 and GA-32, bars must close, elective surgeries may need to be rescheduled, and many businesses must reduce their occupancy to 50%.
How does this impact local businesses?
· Bars - Bars that are not operating as a restaurant under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) rules must close. However, those businesses may continue to offer drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options for food and drinks to the extent authorized by TABC.
· Other businesses - Any business establishment that otherwise would have a 75% occupancy limit must operate at up to only 50%. This applies to retail establishments, restaurants, bars that are operating as restaurants, office buildings, manufacturers, museums, libraries, gyms, and fitness facilities and classes.
· Surgeries - Elective surgeries, as defined in State Executive Order GA-31, must reschedule unless they “would not deplete any hospital capacity needed to cope with the COVID-19 disaster.”
The following activities/services are not impacted by these occupancy changes:
· Religious services
· Local government operations
· Childcare services
· Public or private schools
· Youth camps
· Adult or youth recreational sports
· Drive-in movies, concerts and similar events
· Person care/beauty establishments with at least six feet of social distancing between workstations (see full list in Executive Order GA-32
· Service listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its
What changed?
The Governor’s State Executive Order GA-32 to reopen bars and increase occupancy limits, contained an important exception. If COVID-19 hospitalizations reached certain levels in trauma service areas (TSAs), restrictions in those areas would increase again.
Restrictions are triggered when a local TSA has seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients exceeds 15% of total hospital capacity. Buda is located in TSA O, which encompasses Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, San Saba, Travis, and Williamson counties.
How long will these additional restrictions last?
These additional restrictions will remain in place until Trauma Service Area O has seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID hospitalized patients is 15% or less.
COVID-19 Resources/Information
· COVID-19 Hotline - Hays County residents can call a hotline for answers to their non-emergency COVID-19 questions. Operators are available in English and Spanish. The hotline number is 512-393-5525. This hotline is for answers to health questions about COVID-19 safety practices, symptoms, quarantining, testing, etc.
· COVID-19 Information for Hays County Residents - Please visit the Hays County Website COVID-19 page for additional information on resources/information.
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How to Sign Up for a COVID-19 Vaccine in Texas |
The information below regarding the COVID-19 vaccine is shared directly from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
The week of January 11, Texas will direct most COVID‑19 vaccines received to large sites or hubs around the state to vaccinate more than 100,000 people. The goal of this plan is to provide more people the vaccine and a simpler way to sign up for an appointment.
All Phase 1A and 1B individuals are eligible to receive a vaccine at these hubs, regardless of where they reside.
- Phase 1A: Front-line healthcare workers and residents at long-term care facilities
- Phase 1B: People over 65 or with a chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from COVID‑19
(Hays County is now a hub. Once Hays County receives their first vaccine shipment, those who qualify under the Phase 1A and 1B criteria per DSHS will be able to use an online portal to make an appointment. That portal will not be live until the vaccines arrive. We will share the information on how to sign up through Hays County when that information becomes available.)
How to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas.
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Sign up with a vaccination hub: https://bit.ly/3qjZOMP
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Use the Texas COVID-19 vaccine provider map to sign up with a community provider: https://bit.ly/3oDhjHu
Please be patient as supply is limited. Hubs may have long waiting lists but more vaccine is coming.
More Texas COVID-19 vaccine information:
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Beware of COVID-19 Vaccination Scams |
Beware of COVID-19 vaccine scams! Scams come in all shapes and sizes. Sadly the COVID vaccine distribution is not immune. Please see attached flyer for tips on scams and agencies to report claims. When in doubt...don't let it out. Protect your personal information! |
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Curative COVID-19 Testing Still Available in Buda
By Appointment
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COVID-19 testing is available in Buda through Curative! The testing kiosk is set up in the parking lot at Main Street and China Street near the public restrooms across from Main Street Dental. Curative is offering testing by appointment only until further notice. Curative is also now billing insurance but there is no out-of-pocket cost to the individual being tested. Testing continues to be free to anyone without insurance.
𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐚
*𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 (𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬) 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥
𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐚
𝟗 𝐚.𝐦. - 𝟓 𝐩.𝐦. - 𝟕 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤!
For questions please reach out to Curative at 1-888-702-9042. You can also reach them by email at support@curative.com.
Other Testing Sites in Hays County below.
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Guidance for Paying Property Tax Bill
When Protesting Appraisal
(Hays County Press Release)
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Hays County residents who are in the process of protesting their property appraisal with the Hays County Appraisal Review Board but have not yet had a hearing may have questions about being late on their property tax payment. Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector Jenifer O’Kane has some guidance.
“My office has to have a value from the Hays Central Appraisal District (CAD) to create a property tax bill,” O’Kane said. “If there is no bill, there is no delinquency.”
She said she confirmed with the CAD that about 1,800 protests within the county are still pending, adding, “I understand Hays County residents may have concerns about missing a tax payment deadline if they are in this situation.”
O’Kane said she received this important clarification from the CAD’s Chief Appraiser, Laura Raven: “If you have not received a tax bill for 2020, you will receive one from the Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office once your 2020 appeal has been closed. The deadline to pay those taxes will be listed on your bill.”
Based on this information, O’Kane said she hopes to clear up any confusion.
“I want to assure you that until your protest is heard, decided on and sent to the tax office, you will not have a delinquent bill,” she said.
O’Kane added that once her office generates a bill, a property owner will have until the first of the following month that allows for 21 days to pay the taxes without incurring penalty and interest. However, her office will accept pre-payments.
“Residents who choose to pay something up front, without a bill, are always welcome to make a prepayment to the Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office,” she said.
The tax office holds pre-payments in escrow and applies that amount to the bill once it is generated.
“We send a receipt to the customer with either a balance or asking them if they want the overpayment refunded or held in escrow for following tax year,” she said.
O’Kane reminded property owners that if a value was certified by the CAD and the tax office generated a bill, but the taxpayer filed a late protest, they are still required to pay the taxes that are due by the deadline*.
“Taxpayers can take the risk that they will win their protest and pay only the undisputed amount, but should they lose the protest, penalty and interest may have already accrued if not paid by February 1,” she said.
*This year’s deadline to pay property tax bills without incurring penalties and interest is February 1. Normally the deadline is January 31, but since that falls on a weekend, bills are still on time if paid by February 1.
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Hays County Draft Transportation Plan |
Share your feedback on the Hays County Draft Transportation Plan! A Virtual Open House runs thru Feb. 7. This is your chance to weigh in on the draft plan and provide input on your vision for the future of our county.
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Are you ready for a reset? Our community partner, Hays Communities YMCA and YMCA of Austin, has an opportunity for you.
HIT THE RESET BUTTON IN 2021! RESET your health, RESET your outlook, RESET your spirit, RESET YOU!
The YMCA Reset Challenge is a FREE six-week activity challenge designed to help individuals transform their spirit, mind and body. EVERYONE in the community is welcome, you do not have to be a Y member to join!
Participants are encouraged to get active for 30 minutes a day, 150 minutes per week. Activities are centered around six weekly themes:
Reset
Refresh
Reconnect
Replay
Reinvest
Restore
Opt-in to the challenge by texting RESET to 866-943-9622. Participants will receive three communications a week filled with motivation, challenges, workouts and more.
Monday - weekly summary email and days text
Wednesday - days text only
Friday - days text only
Joining in the Reset challenge will also provide free access to the Y each Saturday to enjoy swimming, working out and a variety of group exercise classes. Participants can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, like pop-up classes, nature walks, and more.
It’s the perfect time to reset your life, reenergize, achieve goals, feel better and stronger. Hit Reset today!
Max. 2 registrations per phone number/household, and must contain two individual names. All other registrations must be with separate phone numbers.
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Plant, Seed, Transplant, Prune, Compost |
Now is the time to plant, seed, transplant, prune, compost and dig so that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor in warmer months. Planting trees, shrubs, roses and ground cover now ensures they have time to establish themselves in the spring before the summer heat pours down. Pecan, fig, grapes, persimmons, and berries are all perfect to plant in January. Carrots, onions and root veggies are fun for kids to grow. They are easy to pull and you never know what they are going to look like! If your kids like carrots, then that’s bonus because fresh carrots are the best. If you need help, Hays County Master Gardeners (https://txmg.org/hays/), Central Texas Gardener (https://www.centraltexasgardener.org/resources/), and Hays County AgriLife Extension (https://hays.agrilife.org/) all provide invaluable information and support.
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As we move into 2021, the City of Buda wants to know what you liked and what we could improve on in respect to our recent holiday activities. This short survey is intended for ANYONE who attended an aspect of the following events, regardless of residency status: Budafest, Festival of Trees, and Trail of Lights. This survey is 100% anonymous.
The deadline to complete the survey is January 31, 2021.
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Curious about how to dispose of your Christmas tree? Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) will pick-up unflocked Christmas trees curbside on regularly scheduled green waste pick-up days through Jan. 31, 2021. Trees must be clear of décor, cut into 4’ pieces or less and set outside at the curb. They will be brought to a collection station and ground into mulch.
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City of Buda Annual Sewer Averaging |
The City of Buda conducts its annual wastewater rate averaging every year from November through February. By reducing your water consumption and fixing leaks during this period, you can reduce the amount charged over the proceeding 12 months for the wastewater portion of your bill. Because there is no meter on your wastewater line, the City utilizes wastewater averaging during the winter months when outdoor water usage is at its lowest. We take
the average of the 3 lowest usage months during this 4 month period to determine your wastewater charges for the next year. The less water that is used during this period, the more you will save on the wastewater portion of your bill.
𝙂𝙤𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 will need to supply the City of Buda Utilities Department with water usage for November & December 2020 and January & February 2021. The new sewer average billing will go out in March and is due on April 10. The sewer charge will stay the same until next year when the City averages again.
𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐚 𝐔𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝟓𝟏𝟐-𝟐𝟗𝟓-𝟖𝟖𝟒𝟓.
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𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡?
You can register your account (for free) on the Water Smart Customer Portal. All you need is your account ID and your zip code. By signing up on the portal, you can set water usage alerts, leak alerts, keep up with your monthly usage and more!
Water Smart Customer Portal Instructional Video
Register Your Account on the Water Smart Customer Portal
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Give Your Irrigation System A Break |
This the perfect time of year to give your irrigation systems a break. Here a few reasons to pull back on the watering.
- Plants are preparing for dormancy. This means they don’t take in as much water.
- Roots continue to grow at a snail’s pace during dormancy. Apply mulch to conserve existing soil moisture and help protect plant roots from freezing temperatures.
- The cooler, wetter weather is usually sufficient for our soon-to-be-dormant lawns. Any additional irrigation — especially during certain times of the day — only encourages fungus growth.
(Tips above shared from SAWS - San Antonio Water System)
As a reminder, the City of Buda is still in Stage 1 Drought Restrictions. You can find more information about drought restrictions and water conservation below.👇
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Stage 1 Water Restrictions
Effective Monday, Aug. 24, 2020
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Effective Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, Stage 1 Water Restrictions will go into effect for City of Buda water customers in accordance with the City’s adopted Water Resource Management and Drought Response Ordinance. This is due to the lack of consistent precipitation, and higher than normal demands on our water production system.
Under Stage 1, irrigation with hose-end (sprinkler attached to a hose) and automatic sprinkler systems is restricted to twice per week. Irrigation with handheld bucket, handheld hose, soaker hose, or drip irrigation system is allowed any day and at any time. Violation of the ordinance could result in a fine of up to $2,000 per offense and a surcharge on the customer’s utility bill.
𝐈𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞-𝐞𝐧𝐝 (𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬
Twice per week on designated day; prohibited between the hours of 10:00am and 7:00 pm
- Odd-numbered residential: Wednesday and Saturday
- Even-numbered residential: Thursday and Sunday
- Commercial, mixed use and multi-family: Tuesday and Friday
- It is recommended that outdoor watering be limited to one of the permitted watering days each week to promote conservation
𝐈𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞, 𝐬𝐨𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦
- Allowed any day and at any time
For more information on Stage 1 restrictions and water conservation tips please our website.👇
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Hays County has provided a list of resources for residents who have lost their jobs or need food, mental health support, or other assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Hays County has a COVID-19 hotline. The number is 512-393-5525 and it is operational Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
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(The information coming from Hays County will continue to change. Please follow Hays County at www.haysinformed.com)
An online dashboard provides the public with a current count and other statistics related to COVID-19 cases in Hays County in near real-time.
The data on the dashboard shows a snapshot of COVID-19 related information for the County, as well as the number of active and recovered cases per City.
For example, the public can see the current number of confirmed cases as of that day. The data includes the cases considered active or in recovery, along with the number of tests administered. The data is also available in map format.
County residents may visit
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New Online/Phone Options for Court Defendants |
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The City has several new options for court defendants:
- Online Case Resolution (InSite) – The City of Buda currently uses some of the options offered through Online Case Resolution, but this upgrade will allow the City to enable additional features like Court Dismissals and Court Scheduling. Basically, any service the City offers on-site will now also be offered online.
- Interactive Voice Response (IVR) – Municipal Court defendants will be able to call 1-866-311-9322 to pay on citations over the phone. This is a new option being offered by the City.
- Tyler Notify – The City has been using notifications by phone call for a while, and now we have the ability to use text messaging at no cost to the City.
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Pay By Phone Automated System |
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The City of Buda has launched a way for customers to pay bills by phone. You will be able to call 1-866-279-0787 and pay through an automated system over the phone.
- Save postage by paying your bill by phone.
- Access your updated account instantly.
- Hear real-time balances, payment amounts, and due dates
- Enter your information securely through an automated system
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City of Buda
Job Opportunities
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Interested in joining our team? Check out our latest employment opportunities.
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Thank you for subscribing to "The Big Picture" weekly newsletter! It's a "Budaful" way to keep up with the latest City news.
Sincerely,
City of Buda
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405. E Loop St., Building 100
Buda, TX 78610
512-312-0084
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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