FAQ’s
What is our tax rate, and what is the tax revenue used
for?
Revenue from the District's taxes pays two expenses. A
certain portion of the taxes levied is to pay off the debt or
Bonds of the District and the other portion is used for
payment of maintenance expenses. The District issues bonds to
finance the infrastructure of the entire District, such as the
water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant, lift
stations and all the water and sewer lines throughout the
District. When a district is new there is more debt and less
maintenance. The longer the district exists, the less debt the
District has, but the infrastructure begins to age and tax
proceeds shift from paying off debt to paying for maintenance
on the entire system.
A comparison of MUD Taxes in our area: Westlake's is the
lowest in the area.
2006 AD
VALOREUM TAX RATE FOR
WESTLAKE MUD #1 AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS
|
DISTRICT NAME |
SUBDIVISION |
TAX RATE |
|
Fry
Road MUD |
Primarily Commercial |
$.54 |
|
Westlake MUD #1 |
Westlake, Westlake Forest,
Westlake Viillage |
$0.60 |
|
Weston MUD |
West Borough
West Borough Place |
$0.62 |
|
Ricewood MUD |
Westfield, Westfield Estates, Westfield Terre, Sunset
Meadow |
$0.62 |
|
West Park MUD |
Commercial area and apartments |
$0.65 |
|
Mayde Creek MUD |
Silvermill, Westfield Estates
Westfield, Sections 9-18 |
$0.75 |
|
Harris County MUD #238 |
Bakers Ridge, Lake Ridge, Oak Ridge Place, Oak Ridge
Park |
$0.75 |
|
Morton Road MUD |
Westlake Place |
$0.81 |
|
West Harris County MUD #17 |
Sundown Glen |
$0.82 |
|
West Harris County MUD #7 |
Raintree Village |
$0.99 |
|
Castlewood MUD |
Castlerock
Parkway West |
$1.09 |
I’ve seen this GRP fee on my water bill. What is it, and
why do I have to pay it?
The fee is paid through the District and to the West Harris
County Regional Water Authority, of which the District is a
member. The District is required to convert to surface water
and complies with the surface water conversion requirements
through its membership in the West Harris County Regional
Water Authority. This complicated matter is better explained
at the Authority's website. Use this link:
http://www.whcrwa.com/
My bill is confusing and I’ve heard about a Rate Order.
What is a Rate Order and how does it affect me?
This link will direct you to a condensed version of the
District's Rate Order. The Rate Order is adopted by the
District to establish rules and fees related to the District's
provision of water and wastewater services.
Rate
Order
Why was my water cut off when I paid my last month's
bill?
(Which month's bill did you or did you not pay in full?)
Please refer to the Delinquent Bill Process. If a delinquent
bill crosses your current month's bill in the mail, the
Delinquent Bill Process goes into effect. You must pay all
outstanding monies owed the District to avoid disconnect. That
means both bills are due now, and both must be paid to stop
the disconnect process. Even though one was paid, the other
became current when the new bill came out. Even though it
seems that you are current, you are not. Your new bill clearly
states that ALL AMOUNTS MUST BE PAID OR YOU WILL BE
DISCONNECTED. A certified letter, a Red Tag, and yet another
letter follow this. Please pay the full amount due on your
bill. When you are disconnected, you have to pay the Red Tag
fee, pay a deposit (if one is not already paid), and any
charges incurred for the turning on of your water by Severn
Trent Environmental Services. Our District has become quite
mobile and transient, and the District is experiencing many
unpaid water bills. This is the reason that we have to use
this method with all our customers. We hope all Westlake
customers understand.
DELINQUENT WATER BILL PROCESS
If a water bill is not paid within 20 days after the
date of the bill, the bill becomes delinquent. A charge
of 10% of the amount of the bill will be added to the
bill when the bill becomes delinquent. At the time a
bill becomes delinquent, the delinquent bill plus any
penalty (and any non-delinquent amount) is immediately
due. This includes the current month, past month(s), as
well as any penalties. Notice of the delinquency and the
date of termination of service will be mailed to the
customer’s address, as reflected in the District’s
records. Notice will also be posted on the front door of
the service address, and a charge of $10.00 will be
assessed to the delinquent account for posting such
notice (Red Tag). If the customer does not pay the full
amount indicated on the notice by the date indicated on
notice, service will be terminated. In the event water
service is disconnected for non-payment, all amounts due
must be paid by cash, cashier’s check, or money-order,
before service will be restored. A charge of $50.00 will
be imposed for restoration of service, and a deposit of
$100 will be required if a deposit in this amount is not
already on file. |
Why do I have such a high water bill?
You may have a leak. Check your home for leaks. Even a
small drip can add up to 1,000 gallons per month. Listen for
running toilets when they are not in use. This is the worst of
the high volume uses in our homes, and a leak here may be two
gallons every time it comes on when not in use. As calculated
by Westlake's operator, a 1/32nd" drip from a faucet equals
5,100 gallons per month, a 1/16th" leak equals 29,000 gallons
per month, and a 1/8th" leak equals 108,000 gallons per month.
For more information, see the water conservation questions and
answers, on page 4 of our site.
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