New Utility rates and Stormwater fees
In October, the new Stormwater Utility will go into effect in Anna. Most cities in DFW have created a stormwater utility in order to:
- Fund public drainage operations & maintenance
- Address unfunded State and Federal mandates (MS4)
- Fund capital drainage improvement projects
- Implement stormwater quality initiatives (street sweeping, inlet protection, pollution prevention, erosion protection)
- Purchase flood-prone properties
Fees collected through Anna’s stormwater utility will be focused primarily on operations and maintenance as the need for erosion protection, creek channel maintenance, and minor stormwater drainage improvements throughout the city continues to increase. The stormwater fee is a flat rate and will naturally increase funding as the city grows in population.
The stormwater fee is a flat rate of $3.20/month for all single family residential homes. For all commercial properties (including multi-family developments), the fee is $10.94/acre. This fee will be seen on utility bills starting with bills issued in the month of October.
Additionally, Anna neighbors will see an 8-percent increase in their monthly Utility bill for water/sewage. Over the past year, the city has seen our costs for materials, supplies, fuel, and electricity increase significantly. In addition, the City of Anna has received rate increases from North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) and the Greater Texoma Utility Authority (GTUA) for the purchase of wholesale water. As a member of the Collin Grayson Municipal Alliance, the City of Anna is contractually obligated to accept rate increases from these entities each year. The proposed rate increases on utility bills is directly tied to the increased costs the City faces, and are only being implemented to ensure that our public water and sewer utility system remains financially sustainable.
Due to the recent growth in Anna and conservative management of the utility fund, city staff is proud to share that the anticipated rate increase is below what our rate model predicted for Fiscal Year 2022. The 8-percent increase is 2-percent less than the original prediction. Bills calculated after Oct. 1, 2022 shall use the newly adopted rates. In addition, the City is finishing a $3.5M upgrade to the Collin Pump Station, which will increase our total water supply by more than 18-percent. This project is being paid for 100-percent by impact fees paid by new development, following the City Council’s strategic goal of growth paying for growth.