San Benito mulls street fee

SAN BENITO — Street repairs might be coming at a higher cost.

Now, city commissioners are considering a proposal to charge residents a so-called street maintenance fee to help fund more street repairs.

Next Tuesday, commissioners are expected to meet in closed session with City Attorney Ricardo Morado to consider Commissioner Esteban Rodriguez’s proposal to charge residents a monthly $2 fee projected to generate about $192,000 a year.

“We’ve got to find a way to fix our streets,” Rodriguez said yesterday. “I don’t know of any other solution. It takes money — and that’s what we’re short on.”

The proposed street maintenance fee could be added to utility customers’ monthly bills or it could be tacked onto the water rate, Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also proposed the option of increasing the city’s property tax rate of 72 cents per $100 valuation. However, he said he would have to discuss any proposed increase with commissioners.

This year, the city’s new $12.7 million general fund budget has earmarked $1.8 million to fund street repairs — about $200,000 more than last year.

“We want to come up with more money for our streets,” Rodriguez said.

Charging the city’s 8,000 water customers an additional $2 a month would raise about $192,000 a year,

“It’s not going to be the answer to all our problems but it could put a dent in it,” he said.

Officials estimate it would cost $6.5 million to repair all the city’s streets.

“It’s a big challenge,” Rodriguez said of the city’s poor street conditions amid its low tax base. “I’m being realistic. I’m looking at the future. I want what is best for our city.”

Rodriguez said he is responding to residents’ concerns.

Last month at a town hall meeting, residents described poor street conditions as one of the city’s biggest problems.

“I’m open for suggestions. If anyone has a better idea, I’d like to hear it,” Rodriguez said, referring to his proposal for a street maintenance fee.

In Harlingen, residents are paying a new street maintenance fee.

This year, the city approved the monthly fee projected to generate about $1.4 million a year.

Under a new ordinance, Harlingen’s utility bills include a monthly $2.50 fee for apartments and other multi-family units; a $2.50 monthly fee for single-family homes using 1,000 gallons of water a month or less; a $4.50 monthly fee for single-family homes using more than 1,000 gallons a month; and an $8.50 monthly fee for commercial accounts.

But in San Benito, Rodriguez realizes residents continue to pay one of the Rio Grande Valley’s highest water bills.

“I understand people are tired of their water bills going up,” Rodriguez said. “For some of our citizens it’s a lot if they’re financially strapped. I understand our citizens and I empathize. I know I sound like the bad guy but I’m just trying to put a dent in the (street) problem.”

In 2004, the city began increasing its base water and sewer rates to help pay for utility improvements including a $17.7 million water plant, a $13 million sewer plant and a $1.6 million water tower.

The city’s base water rate stands at $20.59 for as much as 2,000 gallons while the sewer rate is $29.09 for up to 2,000 gallons.

Meanwhile, residents’ annual utility bills also include a garbage pick-up rate of $20.34.