Adam C. Benefield

Responses (5)

• 💵 Taxes & budget

  Could we not raise the sales tax by .01 cent and save ourselves from raising property tax??

  Texas law currently limits the combined state and local sales tax rate to 8.25%.*Lago Vista is already at that maximum, meaning City Council cannot simply increase the sales tax by another percentage point. But I believe there is a larger conversation we need to have. Before considering additional taxes, whether through property taxes or sales taxes, I believe we need a budget process that identifies and corrects overspending, challenges inflated budget requests, and ensures taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly. Longterm financial planning should also consider how to strengthen our local business base and manage growth in a way that accounts for the infrastructure demands new development creates. That means holding builders and developers accountable for their fair share of the costs associated with roads, water, wastewater, and other infrastructure rather than automatically passing those burdens on to existing homeowners. Taxation is taxation, whether it comes from your property tax bill or the sales tax you pay at the register. The objective should be responsible spending, sustainable revenue, and a tax burden that is as low as reasonably possible while maintaining the services and infrastructure our community needs.

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• 🏗️ Growth & development

  How will you support local businesses while also protecting taxpayers?

  A healthy tourism economy is an important part of supporting our local businesses. We want visitors coming to Lago Vista, enjoying our restaurants, shopping at our stores, experiencing our beautiful lake and wildlife, and leaving with memories that bring them back. Community events such as our Fourth of July celebrations, Lago Fest, and Beers and Balloons create opportunities to attract visitors and support local businesses. I have advocated for the Chamber of Commerce to receive funding for qualifying tourism activities and will continue supporting opportunities that meet the requirements for Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funding. Importantly, the Chamber is not the only organization that can apply. Local businesses and other entities can seek HOT funding for qualifying events and activities that promote tourism and overnight stays, provided they meet state law and City requirements. David Snyder with is archery business is a perfect example. The connection to taxpayers is simple: A stronger business community can generate additional sales tax revenue, helping diversify the City's revenue sources and reduce reliance on homeowners. My objective is to support responsible business development, promote tourism, manage spending, and ensure new growth contributes its fair share toward infrastructure. A stronger local economy and responsible spending are important components of protecting taxpayers.

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• 💬 Something else

  What is your "why" for running for this position?

  Lago Vista faces significant challenges over the next five years, with our aging utility infrastructure being my #1 priority. We have also experienced staff turnover, including at the City Manager level, creating challenges for continuity, accountability, and longterm planning. I bring decades of professional experience in water treatment, utility infrastructure, construction, and managing multimillion dollar budgets. I believe that experience allows me to contribute directly to addressing some of our City's most pressing challenges. My goal is not to serve indefinitely. It is to help leave Lago Vista in a better position than I found it. When our infrastructure is on a sustainable path, our finances are responsibly managed, and we have stable, experienced leadership at both the City Manager and City Council levels, I will consider my service a success.

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• 🏗️ Growth & development

  What does supporting local mean to you?

  Supporting local means putting Lago Vista first while recognizing the importance of strong relationships with our neighboring communities. That includes Jonestown, Point Venture, Marble Falls, Leander, Cedar Park, and especially Travis County, whose partnerships are important when responding to fires, medical emergencies, floods, and other disasters. It also means giving local businesses every reasonable opportunity to earn our business. When the City or citizens needs an air conditioning system replaced, an event catered, or tents provided for Lago Fest, we should look locally first. We should work to eliminate unnecessary red tape that makes it difficult for small, family owned businesses to work with the City and receive timely payment. Our Chamber of Commerce should play an important role in promoting local events, connecting businesses with opportunities, and advocating for the challenges our business owners face. A strong Chamber should be a voice for its members and help create an environment where businesses can thrive. Supporting local also means recognizing the incredible contributions of our volunteers, nonprofits, and community organizations that give their time and resources to make Lago Vista a better place. Ultimately, supporting local means looking out for one another. It's about building relationships, lifting each other's burdens, supporting the people who invest in our community, and making life better for the neighbors we share it with.

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• 🏗️ Growth & development

  Where do you see the city in 5 years?

  I envision a Lago Vista where many of the projects and community efforts already underway have reached full potential. Tessera is nearing completion, with its promised private amenities delivered, proper PID disclosures in place, and residents having received appropriate resolutions from the developer for past issues. Our airport has a newly resurfaced runway and continues to serve as a thriving community asset. The golf course is profitable, its fairways and greens are thriving thanks to a reliable irrigation system, and its profits are being reinvested into continued improvements for the golfing community. The wedding venue; Laiken on Lake Travis, has helped bring tourism to our community, benefiting restaurants, grocery stores, and short term rental owners. The hotel on Boggy Ford is progressing toward construction. Keep Lago Vista Beautiful (KLVB) continues enhancing our parks with art and landscaping. The Lions Club has grown to 300 members, contributing more volunteer hours and charitable donations than ever before... and somehow, their hot dogs have gotten even better! Our library continues to inspire young minds and provide an outlet for those that love to read and learn. Code Compliance is producing measurable results. Abandoned buildings and properties presenting health and safety hazards are being addressed, with the Building and Standards Commission empowered to fulfill its responsibilities. And most importantly, our utility infrastructure is on a sustainable path, our finances are responsibly managed, and we have stable leadership at City Hall. My vision isn't built around City Council taking credit for anything. It's about creating an environment where local businesses, volunteers, community organizations, residents, and city leadership can all succeed. So many people and organizations are already doing great things for Lago Vista. In five years, I hope we can look back and see what we accomplished by working together for the common good of our community.

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