Public Information Office 210 S. McDonald Street Suite 626 McKinney, Texas 75069 www.collincountytx.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 17, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY

County Commissioner to air county concerns over Municipal Utility Districts

(McKINNEY, Texas) – Joe Jaynes, Collin County Commissioner Precinct 3, will testify Wednesday, June 18, before the Texas Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade on the adverse impact of Municipal Utility Districts on Texas counties.

The public hearing will include comments on state policy regarding county development authority related to MUDs in unincorporated areas.

Jaynes says county taxpayers will have to foot the bill to pay for police and fire protection for MUDs in unincorporated areas unless counties are given the authority to limit or assess developer fees for MUDs.

“The counties just want to be at the table when these MUDs are formed,” Jaynes says. “We don’t believe that taxpayers in Wylie should have to pay for police and fire services for those who live next door to Celina. It’s a matter of fairness.”

The public hearing is part of the committee’s review of state and local policies relating to development and growth in rural and unincorporated regions of the state. While cities have the authority to zone residential and commercial development, and establish standards for lot sizes and building standards, counties have no such authority in unincorporated areas.

Jaynes says county governments need some type of authority to require MUDs to take fiscal responsibility for their own public safety systems, or establish themselves within a city that has the infrastructure in place to provide public safety needs through developer fees.

The hearing can also be viewed online here.

WHO: Joe Jaynes, Collin County Commissioner Pct. 3
WHAT: Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade public hearing
WHEN: 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 18, 2008
WHERE: E1.012 (Hearing Room) in the Capitol Extension, Austin, Texas

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