Understanding Your Municipal Services Statement

The municipal services statement you receive monthly from the City of San Angelo includes fees other than water. Depending upon a household’s usage, water fees can represent as little as 35 percent of the monthly bill, with charges for trash service, storm water and sewer accounting for the balance.

Here’s a line-item primer for each of the charges that appear on a residential statement:

• Trash service - provided by Republic Services, with whom the City contracts for trash service and landfill operations.

• Trash sales tax - 8.25-percent sales tax applied to trash service charges. 

• Storm water fee - determined by the amount of impervious area on a property – typically roofs, driveways, patios, walkways and sidewalks – that contribute to rainwater flowing into the storm water drainage system.The fees help fund City efforts to meet federally mandated regulations for maintaining those systems. Storm water fee rates are tiered. As impervious surface area increases, a higher rate applies. The average residential homeowner pays $3 or $4 per month.

• Sewer base fee - determined by the size of the customer’s water meter. The fees fund the operation of the wastewater sewer system. Most residences have a meter that measures five-eighths of an inch and currently pays $29.72 per month. Of that amount, $4.64 is designated for capital improvements to the sewer system.

• Sewer usage fee - based upon an average monthly water usage during December, January and February. Customers who average more than 4,000 gallons per month during that span pay $3.75 for each additional 1,000-gallon increment.

• Water base fee - determined by the size of the customer’s meter. A residence using a five-eighths of an inch meter (the most common size) pays $30.69 per month with $3.32 designated for water-related capital improvements. Water main replacements, Hickory Aquifer infrastructure and fees related to exploration of other potential water sources are examples of capital improvements.

• Water usage fees - determined by two factors: how much water a customer uses and what drought level the city is under. The water rate structure is tiered; as a customer uses more water, they pay a higher rate.

Water customers who live outside the city limits pay 1.5 times the rate paid by city dwellers. Water usage is billed in 1,000-gallon increments. If a new customer uses 1,500 gallons of water the first month, charges are for 1,000 gallons that month. The remaining 500-gallon balance rolls forward until it reaches a 1,000-gallon increment. If the following month the customer used 1,500 gallons, the charge is for 2,000 gallons of usage. For each 1,000 gallons billed, 95 cents is allocated to the water capital improvement fund. Each mailed bill includes a memo box noting the amount dedicated to water and sewer capital projects.

Other municipal service charges you should know about:

• A 15% late fee if not paid within 25 days of the billing date. Payments made after 5 p.m. apply to the next business day.
• A $25 fee for returned checks.
• A $30 fee is required to re-connect service. Outstanding balances and fees are due prior to re-connection.
• A $20 activation fee plus a deposit when an account is established. The amount of the deposit depends upon the customer’s credit history with the Water Utilities Department. The minimum deposit is $100. Deposits are refunded after a four-year period if the customer has no delinquent payments or service discontinued. 

Customers who pay their bills online at cosatx.us/waterbill may note a difference between the online balance and the mailed statement balance. The online balance is a current balance and includes any changes to the account since the statement billed. 

Customers who have questions regarding their statement or their service are encouraged to call the Water Customer Service Division at 325-657-4323; visit our offices at the City Hall Annex, first floor, 301 W. Beauregard Ave., adjacent to City Hall; or email Customer Service Manager Petra Trevino.

We want all of our customers to fully understand their municipal services statement and enjoy a pleasant customer service experience.