LEANDER, Texas -- Leander city leaders on Thursday are slated to discuss hiring an attorney to explore ending the city's services agreement with Capital Metro.
- Leander considering ending Capital Metro agreement
- Has been in place since 1985
- Issue to be taken up Thursday
If it goes forward, Leander Mayor Troy Hill and Interim City Manager Gordon Pierce could negotiate the hiring of outside attorney Leonard B. Smith in order to explore the possible withdrawal of services.
There has been discussion that city leaders are unhappy with the service and that funds could be better used elsewhere.
"I think it's pretty clear that the expansion that we've seen and the growth that we've seen in Leander is because people want to be close to the economic station that is Austin." -- Tegan Retzer, Leander resident.
City council will discuss the agreement on Thursday. Leander contributed more than $5 million from 2017 to 2018.
A CapMetro spokesperson said there are nearly 500 rides each day and ridership has been growing since 2009. Retzer believes the city should focus on discussing expansion opportunities.
"To cut this short and to not ask for more from Cap Metro doesn't make any sense to me," she said.
If council votes to end services, the final say will go to voters in either November or May. If voters decide to keep the services, council cannot bring the item forth for another five years.
Capital Metro, which services Austin and the Austin metro area, was established by a voter referendum on January 19, 1985.
The agency is funding in part by a 1 percent sales tax levied by the City of Leander and other members. Currently, MetroRail service and MetroExpress bus service are available weekdays in Leander.