HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 24-1847INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 24-1847 1
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
May 7, 2024
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT: TOTAL CITY OF FORT WORTH RESIDENTIAL CHARGES
The purpose of this informal report is to provide an overview of the total standard charges paid by City
residents. Aside from property taxes assessed on property owners and billed annually, residents pay all
standard fees and volumetric charges for service on their monthly utility bills. Standard fees and volumetric
charges do not include fees specific to optional services such as community centers or visiting City parks.
The total average annual household cost of fees and service charges for non -optional services such as
water, waste collection, and miscellaneous assessed fees is $1,183.44. In comparison, the average annual
property tax bill in FY2024 is estimated to be $1,534.52 (at property tax rate of $0.6725 per $100 of assessed
property value). This average property tax payment is for the City of Fort Worth only; Fort Worth residents
pay property taxes to several different entities, each of which provides them with specific and unique
services.
Stormwater Fee $7.54 $90.43
Environmental Fee $1.50 $18.00
Solid Waste Fee $17.63 $211.60
btota I Resident-s - Tota I Fees. . 1 14
Water Charges (base plus volumetric) $39.91 $478.92
Sewer Charges (base plus volumetric) $32.04 $384.48
*Charges based on usage as read by a meter.
Customers have the ability to control their usage
and lower their bill
The City's property tax rate and a resident's taxable property value together determine property tax bills.
Total average resident charges are a mixture of fixed fees charged to support City initiatives and charges
for service. In the latter case, residents have some control over costs in that they may vary their usage as
needed; Water and Sewer rates are designed to fully recover costs and are developed annually through a
Cost of Service study using industry standards. Beyond just limiting water usage, residents have other
avenues to lower total fees such as opting for a smaller waste cart.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 24-1847 1
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
May 7, 2024
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: TOTAL CITY OF FORT WORTH RESIDENTIAL CHARGES
A limited survey of major Texas cities reveals how the total cost of Fort Worth residential charges
compares across the state:
Stormwater Fee $64.00 $59.28 $93.00 $146.04 $90.43 $95.64 $108.00 $106.08 $63.24 $80.40
Environmental Fee $54.00 $60.00 $18.00
Street Maintenance $236.40 $214.44 $64.56
Solid Waste Fee S233.76 S237.12 S455.76 S376.20 $211.60 5360.00 S230.28 S306.36 S283.20 S222.00
Water Charges (base plus
volumetric) $778.82 $259.20 $360.76 $757.92 $478.92 $459.35 $477.48 $502.56 $527.74 $648.15
Sewer Charges (base plus
volumetric) $584.16 $265.56 $372.33 $561.12 $384.48 $437.28 $477.52 $608.81 $529.42 $396.48
Out of the top ten cities by population in Texas, Fort Worth currently offers residents City services at the
second -lowest rate.
Methodology
For City of Fort Worth total resident fees, FWLab worked with City staff to determine what is paid, on
average, taking all residents into account. In arriving at the peer city combined resident charges, publicly -
available information provided by each municipality was used, assuming a 2,000 square foot house, a
mid -sized waste cart, and approximately 7,600 gallons of monthly water usage/4,400 gallons of monthly
wastewater collection.
Street Maintenance Fee
Under consideration is a new Street Maintenance Fee which, at roughly $110 annually for the average
City resident, would carry the equivalent cost burden of a property tax rate of approximately 4.8 cents.
This is with respect to out-of-pocket costs paid by an average household and does not necessarily mean
the Street Maintenance Fee would raise revenue equivalent to a 4.8 cent increase on the property tax
rate.
Fees are expressed in terms of what the City realizes, without taxes or other outside fees. If you have
questions concerning this information, please contact Christianne Simmons, Chief Transformation Officer
of the FWLab, at 817-392-6222.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS