Vision SMTX Appendix Adopted 2024

Fiscal Impact Analysis Methodology and Findings

APPENDIX C: KEY FINDINGS FROM FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS

EPS identified some major considerations related to the type of development and the scenarios that were used to develop plan policies. These findings are summarized below. • The City of San Marcos’ ETJ is within four different counties (Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays). Most of the city and its future growth potential is within Hays County, which is more convenient for service provision since San Marcos is the Hays County seat. Growth in the other three counties produces greater service costs (especially for police service). • The location of growth significantly impacts the effectiveness and cost of fire service. Fire service effectiveness is driven by a few key factors including response time to calls for service and the utilization of firefighter units and apparatus. Development that is far from existing fire stations (i.e., with a response time greater than four to six minutes) impacts response times and utilization of units. New development outside existing fire station service areas has a much greater cost to serve as it will generate the need for new stations and firefighters. • Potential growth areas for the City of San Marcos, in some cases, are outside of existing water and sewer service areas for the City’s water and wastewater utilities. New development in areas outside of existing utility service areas will generate requests for service even if the new development is not annexed into the city. If the City chooses to not expand its service boundaries to serve new development, it can create the potential for encroachment of neighboring districts or new, small-scale water and sewer districts to be formed. Encroachment from other districts can limit the City’s influence on the direction and pattern of development. Small-scale districts, especially sewer districts, can create the risk for future failure of the small sewer system or inadequate standards that may impact the long-term quality of life for San Marcos residents. The expansion of the City’s utility systems should follow the direction and pattern of growth prescribed in the Comprehensive Plan.

SAN MARCOS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2024

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