TBCD talks taxes, Anahuac subdivision
WINNIE— Trinity Bay Conservation District met last week to discuss the 2025-26 fiscal year and supplying wastewater services to a potential subdivision in the Anahuac area.
TBCD held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 13, discussing the new tax rate, the subdivision and the bond projects.
The proposed tax rate is $0.291133 per $100, a small decrease compared to last year’s rate.
The district is comprised of Jefferson and Chambers counties, and with the Jefferson County tax value not yet officiated, there may be a small adjustment in the rate prior to adopting the rate.
While the tax rate lowered, the amount owed by property owners may be impacted by property valuations.
A public hearing on the tax rate is set for the next regular meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 9 a.m.
Board members also discussed the 2025-26 budget and will hold a public hearing before adopting it.
General Manager Jerry Shadden discussed a wastewater evaluation study for the west side of the district, saying it is almost complete. Shadden asked the board if they would like to add the Lakes of Anahuac subdivision to the study.
The potential development was last discussed in an Anahuac City Council meeting in May, where council expressed concerns about the sewage plant’s capacity for both the Lakes of Anahuac and a subdivision near Fort Anahuac Park.
The Lakes of Anahuac, which would be outside of city limits, would have about 330 homes, and the other subdivision would have between 75 to 150 homes.
During council’s May meeting, council concluded that the sewage plant would need to be upgraded to support both subdivisions and didn’t want constituents to foot the bill.
Under a separate agenda item discussing installing a connection at Belton Lane to sell water to Anahuac, Shadden furthered the subdivision discussion, saying Anahuac had the capacity for the Lakes of Anahuac, but were “just sitting on their hands over there.”
Shadden suggested signing a contract with Anahuac for TBCD to build another plant when the city hits capacity.
After a brief discussion with the board, they approved for TBCD Board Attorney Kate Leverette to meet with Anahuac Attorney Richard Baker to explore the possibility of an agreement, and they also approved the installation of the waterline connection.
The board approved installing 2,000 feet of a 6-inch waterline on the Belton Lane extension for $20,000 to boost the water pressure after a customer complained.
As for the bond projects, Leverette said the bond application is almost ready to be submitted, and Shadden shared that the 20-inch waterline project continues.
Shadden also said water tank design plans were submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality a few weeks ago.