Author: TOTL

WHCRWA Fee Increase

At the Authority’s Board of Directors meeting held on November 11, 2020, the Authority adopted increased fees in order to fund the massive water supply projects that are needed to meet the Harris Galveston Subsidence District (“HGSD”) groundwater reduction regulations and to avoid the $9.24 per 1,000 gallons fine that the HGSD imposes for non-compliance.

Effective January 1, 2021, the Groundwater Reduction Plan Fee will be $3.45 per 1,000 gallons of groundwater pumped and the Surface Water Fee will be $3.85 per 1,000 gallons of water delivered by the Authority. Such increase correspondingly increases the Imported Water Fee.  The District currently pays the Groundwater Reduction Fee. For more information about the WHCRWA, visit https://www.whcrwa.com.

Recycling Lid Delivery

Residential Recycling and Refuse of Texas, the District’s garbage collection provider, will begin delivering lids for recycling bins on February 2 and will continue through the end of the week. Such lids will be used to secure your recycling material and protecting such material during rain events. Please be sure to secure your recycling bin lid to your recycling bin to avoid loss, misplacement or theft.

Tax Rate Set

The Board of Directors of Trail of the Lakes MUD (ʺTOTLMUDʺ) voted to reduce the MUD Property Tax Rate to $0.64 per $100 valuation for the 2020 tax year. Please keep in mind this rate is for TOTLMUD only. Other entities, including the county, school district, hospital district, etc., set their own tax rates each year.

The Board of Directors also authorized Bob Leared Interests, TOTLMUDʹs tax assessor‐collector, to mail duplicate tax statements in January 2021. These statements will be mailed to homeowners whose original tax statement was requested by and mailed to a mortgage company AND remains unpaid at the time of the January mailing. If you receive a DUPLICATE TAX STATEMENT, this is your reminder to contact your mortgage company to ensure their timely payment of your MUD taxes by January 31, 2021.

You can view, make payments, and print receipts for your TOTLMUD property taxes online at www.bli‐tax.com. There is an additional processing fee when making online payments. In addition to paying through the website, you can pay your TOTLMUD taxes by phone, by calling OPAY Customer Service at (800)487‐4567 between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm CST. Select option #3 (customer service), tell the representative you are calling to pay TEXAS taxes. You will then need to provide your account number which begins with “116.” There is an additional processing fee when making payments by phone.

If you have not received your 2020 TOTLMUD tax statement by the end of November, and you are unable to locate your account online at www.bli‐tax.com, please contact the TOTLMUD tax assessor‐collector at 713‐932‐9011 to discuss your tax account. Failure to receive a tax statement will not extend the due date of January 31, 2021, and does not meet the legal requirements to waive penalties or interest which will be added if payment is not made in full by the due date.