San Leon Municipal Utility District Frequently Asked Questions

San Leon Municipal Utility District

443 24th Street

San Leon, Texas 77539

What is the San Leon Municipal Utility District (MUD)?
How does the MUD work?
Can I have a say in how the Board manages the MUD or in the decisions it makes?
What about MUD taxes?
Can the MUD provide for parks, pools and recreation facilities?
Does the MUD make a profit by selling water and sewer services?
There are only 2 people in my home but my bill is always the same amount. Why is that?
What if my water meter fails?
Where does the water I purchase from the MUD come from?

Text Box: What is the San Leon Municipal Utility District (MUD)? The San Leon Municipal Utility District (MUD) is a political subdivision of the State of Texas. It is a government authorized to provide water, sewage and other services within the MUD boundaries or “District”. The MUD is responsible for constructing, maintaining and operating the physical plants, systems and procedures that provide these services. The standards for these services are set and supervised by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Texas laws and statutes, including the Texas Water Code, Texas Government Code and others are the authorities by which the MUD is empowered and by which it operates.

Text Box: How does the MUD work? Board of Directors; elected by the voters in the District, manages and controls all of the affairs of the MUD under the guidance and supervision of the Texas Commission of Environment Quality (TCEQ). The Board establishes policies and lawfully enforceable ordinances in the interest of its residents and utility customers. A MUD may adopt, enforce and collect all necessary charges, fees and taxes in order to provide and maintain district facilities and services.

Text Box: Can I have a say in how the Board manages the MUD or in the decisions it makes? The Board holds regularly scheduled monthly meetings and special meetings when necessary. Board meetings are conducted under the Texas Open Meetings act and Robert’s Rules of Order. Residents of the District are welcome to attend the meetings. If a resident has an issue or matter to present to the Board, he or she must contact the District office prior to a meeting to be placed on the agenda.

Text Box: What about MUD taxes? As a government, the MUD is authorized to raise taxes. MUD tax rates, like all property tax rates, vary according to property values and debt requirements. Initial construction of MUD facilities and replacement of obsolete or exhausted facilities is paid for by bonds (a form of borrowing). The MUD collects taxes from property owners who are served by those facilities to settle or “pay off” the bonds. In general, the day to day cost of operating the facilities, i.e. providing the water, sewer and related services is paid for from the fees the MUD collects for permits, inspections and the revenues from the sale of water and sewer services.

Text Box: Can the MUD provide for parks, pools and recreation facilities? In addition to their common functions of water and wastewater service, MUD’s are legally empowered to engage in conservation, irrigation, electrical generation, firefighting, solid waste collection and disposal, and recreational activities (such as parks, swimming pools, and sports courts). A MUD can even commission a police department.

Text Box: Does the MUD make a profit by selling water and sewer services? No. The MUD is not a business. Like any other government agency that collects revenues, it is only permitted to collect what it needs to operate.

Text Box: There are only 2 people in my home but my bill is always the same amount. Why is that? There is a minimum charge for water and sewer for each meter in the District. The minimum is based on three thousand gallons (3,000). If you use less, you still must pay the minimum amount. If you use more than the minimum, your bill will increase.

Text Box: What if my water meter fails? If the water meter were to fail, it might restrict or block the water from getting to your building. But it CAN NOT register more water than passes through it. In other words, if the measuring mechanism fails, it will just stop measuring, it will not count more water than you receive.

Text Box: Where does the water I purchase from the MUD come from? The San Leon MUD purchases the water it delivers to you from the Gulf Coast Water Authority. It is surface water (not well water) and is processed and treated under strict supervision of the TCEQ and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Our planet is 90% water which is constantly being recycled. The “Hydrologic” or “Water” cycle is shown here.