A water or wastewater utility provider serving an economically distressed area may recover certain impact fees from a developer or owner of an undeveloped lot, subject to board rules.
Sec. 17.936. RECOVERY OF ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREA IMPACT FEES. (a) It is the intent of the legislature that a private developer not unduly benefit from the expenditure by the state of public funds on infrastructure for public benefit. (b) In this section: (1) "Capital improvement costs" includes: (A) the construction contract price; (B) surveying and engineering fees; (C) land acquisition costs, including land purchases, court awards and costs, attorney's fees, and expert witness fees; (D) fees actually paid or contracted to be paid to an independent, qualified engineer or financial consultant who is: (i) preparing or updating the capital improvements plan; and (ii) not an employee of the subdivision; and (E) projected interest charges and other finance costs that are used for the payment of principal and interest on bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by or on behalf of the political subdivision to finance the capital improvements plan and that are not used to reimburse bond funds expended for facilities that are not identified in the capital improvements plan of the subdivision. (2) "Economically distressed areas program impact fees" means the pro rata share of the capital improvement costs attributable to each lot in an economically distressed area. (c) This section applies only to property located in: (1) the unincorporated area of an affected county, as defined by Section 16.341; and (2) an economically distressed area, as defined by Section 16.341. (d) The provider of water or wastewater utility service to an economically distressed area may recover from a developer or owner of an undeveloped lot economically distressed areas program impact fees as provided by rules adopted by the board. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 979, Sec. 22, eff. June 16, 1995.