The City of Brownsville is considering a new Stormwater Utility Fee that would provide dedicated funding for drainage maintenance, flood reduction, resaca care and stormwater infrastructure across the city.
The proposal, outlined in the Brownsville Stormwater Utility Fee Study, is scheduled for City Commission action and a vote Oct. 6 and 7.
The proposed fee would replace the previous $6.25 monthly Resaca Fee, which funded only resaca maintenance. The new utility would support a broader citywide stormwater program that addresses flooding, erosion, water quality and the ongoing maintenance of Brownsville’s drainage and resaca systems.
Under the recommended structure, residential properties with less than 1,490 square feet of impervious area would pay $3 per month. All other residential properties would pay $6.25 per month.
Nonresidential properties would pay $6.25 per Equivalent Residential Unit per month, with one ERU representing 3,600 square feet of impervious area. The approach ties the fee to stormwater runoff generated by hard surfaces such as rooftops, driveways and parking lots.
The study estimates the fee would generate approximately $6.6 million annually. Funding would support proactive drainage and resaca maintenance, capital improvements and eligible stormwater operating expenses currently supported by the General Fund. Revenue would be kept separate and reserved for stormwater-related needs.
Proposed capital improvements include storm sewer and inlet upgrades, drainage channel improvements, detention and flood-storage projects, culvert and roadway crossing improvements, and pump station and outfall improvements.
If approved, the City and Brownsville Public Utilities Board would begin billing preparations this fall, along with public outreach and advance communication with larger customers. The proposed fee is scheduled to take effect in the first quarter of 2027, subject to City Commission action.
Source: City of Brownsville
