Part 1: The Pitch – When Money Looks for a Mission Opening Scene: A Familiar Setup The March 24, 2026 special meeting opened like many before it: Roll call. Pledge of Allegiance. Two-minute public comment (because efficiency is the cornerstone of democracy). Then came the headline: 👉 A $5.81 million bond application At first glance, this might sound like a forward-looking infrastructure plan. But here’s the part that didn’t make the brochure: $5.81 million isn’t a calculated

Sometimes transparency arrives with a drumroll. Other times it arrives with a polite Public Information Act request… and a calendar. This week’s episode of “Where’s the Bond Report?”  began back on February 3rd , when a request was submitted for the draft Bond Application Report  for Williamson–Travis Counties Municipal Utility District No. 1 . Why the interest? Because a Bond Application Report is not just paperwork. It’s the document that explains how much money the distric

“Dial 911, There’s a Flyer in the Room.” Welcome back to another thrilling installment of As the MUD Turns  — filmed live at your favorite municipal theater where the drama is unscripted, the reports are optional, and the rules are… flexible. Act I: The Phone Box Incident Before the meeting even begins, Chris Rocco  launches into full TSA mode, demanding Director David Flores  surrender his phone to the sacred “phone box.” David, being a grown adult and not a third grader on

McCall Gibson Swedlund Barfoot Ellis PLLC 13100 Wortham Center Drive, Suite 235 Houston, Texas 77065 January 23, 2026 Dear Mr. Swedlund, The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires Municipal Utility Districts to undergo an annual financial audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS). While such audits are often focused on the material fairness of the financial statements, GAAS further requires auditors to obtain reasonable assura

Where governance meets performance art. Opening Act: Public Comment Roulette New year, new rules. Board President Beth Jones opened the meeting by announcing that public comments must now be tied to an agenda item. Three residents were nearly benched under this surprise procedural innovation before district counsel gently clarified what the 2026 Open Meetings Handbook actually says. Nothing says “confidence” like changing the rules mid-game — and then being overruled by your

MUDucation Recap: The Night the Board Voted Themselves a Legal Slush Fund If you ever wondered what it looks like when a board stops pretending and just goes full mask-off, the December 29, 2025 Special Meeting delivered. Tucked neatly into the agenda—like a stocking stuffer nobody asked for—was a resolution authorizing four board members to use public funds to pay for their personal lawsuits . Not lawsuits involving district operations. Not lawsuits defending the MUD. Person

Season’s Greetings from the Grift Coming into the holidays, this Board did not disappoint. If anything, they leaned in. A resident came forward with a sincere concern about the astronomical firefighter fee increase  and the very real financial impact it’s having on him. Director Flores attempted to do something radical: he made a motion to discuss what could be done to reduce the burden on residents. No second. No discussion. Motion dead on arrival. Translation: four directo

Welcome Back to the Clown Car The November meeting unfolded in the typical clown-car fashion we’ve all come to expect. Directors Flores and Avila were absent, leaving the Three Stooges at the helm. What could go wrong? Lead Pipes, Memories, and Magical Thinking This month’s engineering report was delivered by the engineer’s associate, who shared “testimony” from the plumbing contractor who supposedly laid the fresh water pipes in the MUD 35–40 years ago. His recollection: he

Attendance: Directors Flores and Jones were absent, leaving the evening in the hands of the Three Stooges. Rent-a-Cop was also missing, demonstrating yet again that his presence has never been essential to anything other than the snack table. The Overhead Projector Resurrection Attempt The meeting began with a lengthy struggle to revive the overhead projector, which has been inoperable for more than four years. The Inframark operator insisted it was “a new one,” though no on