Facing the tangible threat of urban flooding, Fort Worth officials are considering a 5% hike in stormwater utility fees, targeting an accelerated overhaul of the city's at-risk storm drain infrastructure, a move articulated as essential to enhancing public safety and circumventing system failure. The fee adjustment, geared towards diminishing the probability of flood and sinkhole calamities that inevitably imperil residents, dwellings, and thoroughfares, vigils against the potential peril of inaction, according to the City of Fort Worth.
As per the proposed changes, homeowners and business owners alike may see a slight increase in stormwater rates. For a single-family homeowner, the annual bill would rise to $83.28, reflecting an additional 33 cents per month. Commercial properties would experience a proportional 5% monthly increase. For instance, a gas station with one acre of impervious surface would see its monthly fee increase by $5.61, while a medium-sized business with 10 acres of hard surface would face an increase of $55.11 per month.
Embracing proactive storm drain rehabilitation aligns with a strategic municipal objective to magnify public safety, curtail emergencies, and amplify the community's overall well-being and this proposed rate increase, if sanctioned, would mark the seventh since the utility's genesis, following a substantial 15% hike in 2024.
