A neighborhood in southern Austin is considering severing its ties with the city following a petition to be removed from Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) on Menchaca Road, just south of Slaughter Lane.
Areas classified as ETJs receive some city services and are subject to limited oversight from the City of Austin. However, they are not subject to city taxes and primarily face regulations concerning health and safety. According to the Austin Planning Department, Austin encompasses nearly 170,000 acres designated as ETJ.
The petition, submitted on June 7, seeks the exclusion of 96 acres, predominantly commercial, with a few single-family homes and one multi-family property, from city oversight, as detailed in a city memo.
Local residents are expected to vote on this proposal in November.
“This is the first time we have had such an election petition, but it’s crucial for people to understand that these petitions can be initiated by any resident, regardless of land ownership in the area,” explained Sara Groff, principal planner for jurisdictional matters in Austin. “Essentially, you can outline a region and say you want it released and have an election to pursue this.”
According to Groff, getting an issue like this on the ballot requires signatures from 5% of registered voters in the area that seeks release from city jurisdiction.
This development follows Governor Abbott’s signing of SB 2038 into law last year, which simplified the process for residents to petition for removal from a municipality.
“SB 2038, passed in the last legislative session, allows residents and landowners in an ETJ, outside of certain cities, to petition for their property to be released. This effectively turns them into part of the unincorporated county,” Groff explained.
