Any new build subdivisions with NO MUD TAX? (Houston, Dallas: 2015, HOA)

[usc619]

Funny to see how some folks try to justify MUDs. Having served on a MUD board, I'll be the first to say it's a racket. The OP comes from a region(DFW) where they've been able to build superior communities/infrastructures mostly without MUDs and high water bills I understand the frustrations. That being said, there's really no way around it with all of the unincorporated counties throughout the Houston metro. No excuse for having a MUD within city limits.....greed and cash cow plain & simple. That's where I think the local Realtors tend to drop the ball down here....in DFW they(realtors) would recommend you not to buy into a MUD (within city limits). The reason why you don't see developers pushing for MUDs up there is because they (city leaders/developers) know it will just sit stagnant.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Yes; as a matter of fact, not just homeowners with their own system. I am a director on a MUD board; we used surplus capital funds to buy a generator too.

Well of course you're pro MUD, considering the little perks you're getting off the district tax payers dime lol

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by usc619

Well of course you're pro MUD, considering the little perks you're getting off the district tax payers dime lol

My MUD provides a nice lunch for our meetings and a per diem payment that compensates me (at a discounted rate) for my time away from my office where I could make my company, and myself, money. Those are my "perks." The MUD will pay for someone to attend the Association of Water Board Directors conference which happens twice a year. I will attend the upcoming conference, but it's because I'm doing a presentation. No one else has ever attended.

Your statements that Collin and Denton counties have superior suburbs are false, no basis in fact. Do you work for the Chronicle?

[Timnwendy]

As long as we're off topic, I'd like to comment that a MUD can help the communities that are within its boundaries. Note that 'can' does not mean 'will'. It does take interaction between the residents and a MUD board to make this happen. For example, two of my neighbors were elected to our local MUD board, and now they are able to channel surplus MUD funds back into our subdivision for improvement projects (coordinating with our HOA). Sure, I don't like paying the MUD tax each year either, but at least my subdivision gets some benefit from it.

[vwgto]

Originally Posted by Timnwendy

As long as we're off topic, I'd like to comment that a MUD can help the communities that are within its boundaries. Note that 'can' does not mean 'will'. It does take interaction between the residents and a MUD board to make this happen. For example, two of my neighbors were elected to our local MUD board, and now they are able to channel surplus MUD funds back into our subdivision for improvement projects (coordinating with our HOA). Sure, I don't like paying the MUD tax each year either, but at least my subdivision gets some benefit from it.

So why have these political entities in the first place? The last thing any of us need is another taxing authority re-distributing funds in a discretionary manner.

[usc619]

To answer the OP's question....

DFW home buyers - "why in the world would I want to buy into a community and take on extra taxes when I don't have to?"

Houston home buyers - " it's really not that bad since mostly everyone around here is paying into a MUD"

...it's all in the sheepish mindset out here.

Disclaimer: this only applies to Cities, not unincorporated counties.

[Lbjen]

If you don't like what they're doing, show up to the meetings and volunteer to get on the board yourself. It's the same thing with HOAs. Everyone complains but of course they're going to do what they want if nobody is watching.

[texsn95]

Our MUD in 77084 is outstanding, they have contributed many 1000s towards the installation of ~15 outdoor exercise equipment around our greenbelt, and even fixed a main line plumbing blockage for free that was within our back yard.

[Texas Ag 93]

To some degree, this happens everywhere. They are going to get you one way or another to pay for development, utilities and their upkeep, amenities etc. I think in highly desirable neighborhood, most people are going to tolerate them if the areas have good public schools, amenities and good location. It's a tradeoff, as all things are.

[ftbend06]

MUDs are not necessarily good or bad. It's just another way of financing the infrastructure in a development. Generally the developer is not a charity. Their costs are going to get passed on to you whether it's in your mortgage or in the form of a MUD tax, etc. In creating MUDs, they are following the rules of the State. If people don't like it, that's the level at which it should probably be changed. Finally, it is a choice to be in a MUD. If you don't want to be in one I would not do it. I believe there are forms you have to sign notifying you in advance. There are plenty of areas not in active MUDs. Yes most newer areas in this region seem to be in MUDs. The advantages to other regions not having MUDs are probably less beneficial to homeowners than they are to cities of being able to control the location of development/sprawl.

These things have been going on for 30+ years and only more recently is it that hot of a topic. I think that is probably more a reflection of the times than MUDs.