Ft Worth Times

The new year will bring a 15% increase to the stormwater fee on Fort Worth residents’ utility bills, which will fund programs that help mitigate flooding.

Why it matters: Due to previous heavy and repetitive flooding, a need was emphasized for improved large-scale flood risk reduction and drainage system maintenance. During an August 2022 flooding event, there were a reported 52 flooded structures, 22 high-water rescues, 237 flooded vehicles and 58 overtopped road locations. Within the year, the increase is expected to result in about $7.7 million of additional revenue for the stormwater program, which will be used for planned projects for additional flood risk reduction efforts.

Keep going: With the 15% stormwater fee increase, the average single-family homeowner will pay $79.35 annually; a small business, such as a gas station or retail store, will pay $1,329.40 annually; and a medium-sized business will pay $13,294 annually. View a rate table for further explanation.

General maintenance

With the fee increase, the City’s Stormwater Management Division will be able to:

• Add a five-person team to inspect and clean culverts.
• Purchase remote-controlled equipment.
• Add a seven-person team to inspect and clean storm drain pipes ahead of condition assessments.
• Add a 10-person channel maintenance crew in FY27.
• Add a two-person concrete repair crew and add additional equipment in FY27.

• Add an additional in-house storm drain pipe condition assessment crew and outfitted truck in FY28.

Large-scale drainage improvements

The rate increase will help to tackle large-scale flood risk reduction in known problem areas by constructing phased improvements over time, ultimately working toward:

• Upper Lebow: Improving eight hazardous road crossings and constructing channel improvements to help improve roadway safety and mitigate flooding to approximately 130 structures.
• Linwood/West Seventh: Storm drain system improvements would mitigate existing 100-year flood risk for about 40 structures and partially mitigate flood risk for about 200 structures.
• Berry/McCart: Reduce the flood depth at Berry Street and mitigating flood risk at dozens of structures.

The stormwater fee has increased five times since its inception in 2006, with the most recent increase in 2020 at 6.5%. Fort Worth’s previous rate was just above the Texas average, while the new rate now brings Fort Worth just below Dallas, Arlington and Austin.

Original source can be found here.