Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
WATER CODE |
Title 4. GENERAL LAW DISTRICTS |
Chapter 51. WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS |
Subchapter D. POWERS AND DUTIES |
Sec. 51.195. PROHIBITED CHARGES AND FEES
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(a) In this section, "undeveloped property" means property within the district to which water or sewer services are actually available and to which no water or sewer connections have been made.
(b) Except as provided in Subsection (c) of this section, no district in which the ratio of the assessed valuation of property to the amount of bonded indebtedness of the district is at least 15 to 1, proposing to provide or actually providing water and sewer services or either of these services to household users as the principal function of the district, may adopt and impose on the owners of undeveloped property in the district a charge or fee on the undeveloped property that is in addition to taxes levied on that property.
(c) If the board of directors of a district covered by this section desires to adopt and impose a charge or fee prohibited by Subsection (b) of this section, it shall submit to the commission a petition for authority to adopt and impose the charge or fee. If the commission finds that it will be in the best interest of the district and property owners of the district, the commission shall approve the adoption and imposition of the charge or fee for a period of not more than three years. The imposition of a charge or fee may be renewed for additional periods of three years in the manner provided in this section for initial approval of the charge or fee.