Watauga credited more than $200,000 to residents’ water bills in December. Here’s why.
Over 3,000 water customers in Watauga got a gift on their December water bills when the city credited them for their deposits, with some deposits dating back to the 1990s.
Watauga began crediting people’s accounts after the City Council voted 4-2 in November to automatically refund deposits after two years if the water accounts are in good standing.
Previously, Watauga returned deposits after two years, but people had to request their refunds in writing.
Councilman Scott Prescher, who brought up the question about how the city was handling water deposit returns, said that when he moved to Watauga over two years ago, he paid a $100 deposit and was told to contact the city to get it back.
He put a reminder on his phone, and in August, he called the water department to request his refund. He was told to submit the request in writing.
“I thought that was ridiculous,” Prescher said.
Prescher asked why Watauga didn’t send automatic refunds since the billing software is set up to do that.
“It was insane; it just didn’t make sense,” he said.
Prescher said he started a discussion about the water account deposits on his Facebook page, and got responses from residents who forgot or had no idea that they could get the money back.
Sandra Gibson, Watauga’s finance director, said in an email to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the city credited $202,510 in December to 3,002 customers whose accounts were in good standing, and that, going forward, the city would continue refunding the deposits as credits on water bills after two years as long as accounts are in good standing.
According to a Watauga council packet, some nearby cities, including Bedford, Haltom City and Hurst, allow refunds if customers request them in writing and if their accounts are in good standing. Other cities, such as North Richland Hills, Saginaw, Roanoke, Lake Worth, Keller and Euless, don’t give refunds until customers stop their water service.
Prescher said he hopes his inquiry will increase awareness.
“If anything, this will teach people to ask questions and to get their cities to do what they are supposed to do,” he said.
This story was originally published January 6, 2020 at 5:00 AM.