Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The city of Burleson has the legal authority to create a stormwater utility fee. This is allowed under State Law – Local Government Code 552, Subchapter C (Municipal Drainage Utility Systems Act).

If approved, this fee would create a dedicated funding source to help the city maintain and improve its drainage systems—things like storm drains, culverts, pipes, and swales. These systems help prevent flooding, erosion, and other drainage problems across the community.

Everyone with a building or structure would pay the fee. That includes:

• Homeowners
• Businesses
• Schools and educational facilities
• Religious institutions
• Government buildings

Why? Because all buildings contribute to drainage runoff.

The amount you'd pay depends on how much hard surface is on your property—things like:

• Roofs
• Driveways (concrete or gravel)
• Sidewalks
• Parking lots
• Private streets and alleys
• Decks around pools

Why? Hard surfaces (also known as impervious surfaces) keep water from soaking into the ground. Instead, rain runs off and flows into the city's drainage system. The more runoff your property creates, the more it uses the system—and the more it contributes to wear and tear.

All 17,529 properties in Burleson were individually analyzed to measure the amount of impervious surface—like rooftops, driveways, and parking areas—on each one. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, along with aerial photos and site plans, the city calculated the total square footage of hard surfaces for every property.

This information was used to create the Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU)—a standard unit based on the median impervious area of a typical single-family home in Burleson. The ERU provides a fair and consistent way to compare residential and non-residential properties when calculating the stormwater utility fee.

Ninety percent of residential customers would pay no more than $8 per month, and it would appear on their regular city utility bill.

If you are a resident who does not receive city utility services, the city will work with other local water providers to include the fee on their utility bills whenever possible. If that’s not an option, the city will bill you directly.

For non-residential properties (like businesses, schools, churches, and government facilities), the fee would vary based on the amount of hard surface on the property.

If approved, the stormwater fee would create a dedicated funding source to improve drainage across Burleson. It would allow the City to:

• Increase maintenance of ditches, inlets, and culverts to help prevent flooding and keep water flowing where it should.
• Free up other resources currently being used for drainage work, so the city can focus more on long-term system upkeep.
• Target upgrades to aging or undersized infrastructure, helping to reduce flood risk in neighborhoods and protect local streets and waterways.

Over time, the fee would help make Burleson's drainage system stronger, safer, and better prepared for heavy rains and future growth.