By PHIL ARNOLD

DEWAYNE NAUMANN who is in the April 14 runoff for the GOP nomination for county judge, called Austin's plan to buy 15,000 acres over the Edwards Aquifer "nothing more than a land grab."

The city is asking voters to approve Proposition 2 in a May 2 referendum authorizing $65 million in revenue bonds to purchase the land in south and southwest Travis County.

Naumann said the purchase would cause "serious erosion of the tax base causing everybody's taxes to go up to ke up for lost revenues" from land taken off the tax rolls.

According to Naumann, the purchase would remove land from the tax base of several school districts, Travis and Hays County, all the Municipal Utility Districts that tie their taxes to local rates.

Even Austin residents who live in Williamson County will be affected, he said, because their water rates will be raised to retire the bonds "and their tax rates will have to raised to compensate for lost revenues."

Naumann said Proposition 2 is "punitive and is directed against Circle C because the subdivision fought the hardest against annexation by the city.

Circle C is completely surrounded by land targeted for purchase.

As a member of the Austin Parks and Recreation Board, Naumann has fought very hard to give city park police raises and to increase their staff. He is concerned, if Proposition 2 passes, "there is no way the current 35 Park Police officers will be able to cover the 10,000 to 15,000 acres. That would be an unbelievable potential disaster considering the Park Police understaffing for current hike and bike trails. In summer, he said, 10 of the 35 officers are tied up patrolling Lake Austin and Decker Lake, further lessening coverage of parks and trails.

Naumann expressed concern over the reported "development options under which the city would offer the land owner money in exchange for agreeing not to develop it. The bar to development remains in force if the land is sold.

Naumann is concerned the city will be able to sell the options -- with the right to develop -- or even give them away to political supporters.