The City of Victoria has published an informational webpage to help residents learn about the new stormwater drainage utility fee that is being proposed to fund maintenance and improvements for Victoria’s drainage system.

The webpage includes detailed information about how the fee is determined for different types of properties, specific drainage projects that it would fund during the coming years, how the fee compares to other cities and answers to other frequently asked questions.

The page can be found at www.victoriatx.gov/drainage. 

Why create a separate fee?

Unlike many other Texas cities, the City of Victoria does not have a dedicated funding source for drainage projects. This means that the City must rely on other funding sources for the stormwater drainage system, which has more than $129 million worth of unmet drainage needs. The lack of dedicated funding limits the amount of drainage projects and maintenance that the City is able to complete.

The proposed fee would allow for more robust funding in the following areas:

• General maintenance: mowing drainage ditches, culvert clearing/repairs, storm drain cleaning
• Capital projects: improvements at key outfalls and drainage channels citywide
• Emergency response: quick removal of blockages and localized flooding issues

What will the proposed fee be?

For non-commercial residential properties, the City is proposing a flat fee of $5 per month.

For other properties (businesses, apartment complexes, etc.), the bill is based on the property’s impervious area—surfaces such as roofs, driveways and pavement that do not absorb water. To calculate a specific property’s fee, visit www.victoriatx.gov/drainage. 

What’s next?

The City Council will vote on the proposed drainage fee at the March 3 and 17 City Council meetings. If approved, the drainage fee will go into effect in April 2026.

Full City Council meetings and agendas, including previous discussions on the stormwater drainage study, can be viewed at www.victoriatx.gov/tv15. 

To learn more about the project, visit www.victoriatx.gov/drainage. 

To learn more about the City’s budget, including projects planned for the upcoming fiscal year, visit www.victoriatx.gov/budget.