Mason Creek Announces Rate Change


Dear Resident of Mason Creek Utility District,

In late 2007, Mason Creek Utility District (MCUD) assumed responsibility for the solid waste contract from the Nottingham Country Community Improvement Association (NCCIA). This action avoided an immediate increase in solid waste collection rates and eliminated sales taxes on these services. This achieved a net decrease in the cost.

The MCUD board initially intended to "pass through" the solid waste cost to each resident, just as WCA has previously done. However, the board eventually decided to eliminate the solid waste fee, saving each household about $20 per month.

Eliminating the solid waste fee did increase the future financial responsibilities of the District. The board believed it was prudent to plan to meet those responsibilities, especially because the District was already absorbing a major part of the cost of water and sewer service. For this purpose, the District did a cost study. The study indicated that an estimated 45% of the cost of water and sewer service is being covered by the monthly rates---the rest has to be covered by available tax funds. To avoid over-committing the available tax funds, the board determined that the water and sewer rates should be increased by about $10 per household, effective January 2008. (Note: With that increase, the water and sewer rates will cover an estimated 56% of the water and sewer cost---a large portion of the cost will continue to come from available tax funds).

The combination of eliminating the solid waste “pass-through” fee and changing the water/sewer rates still provides a significant savings to each resident of the community, while continuing to provide premium services with one of the lowest tax rates in Harris County. (“The MCUD board strives to continue reducing costs for residents of the community while ensuring the financial health of the district for the years ahead,” commented MCUD Board President Len Forsyth.)

The water and sewer rate increase is scheduled to appear on bills sent out this month. (Of course, the solid waste fee has been eliminated, so it will not appear on the bill.) Should you have any additional questions please email them to directors@mcud.com.

Yours very truly,


For the District