Disagreements erupt over bill to form water district in growing Wise County
Legislation calling for fast-growing Wise County to have a regional water district is at an impasse as elected officials and developers are in a disagreement over how to allocate seats on the board of directors.
Leaders in Alvord, Aurora, Boyd, Bridgeport, Decatur, Newark, New Fairview, Paradise and Rhome have worked together with county leaders for a over a year to develop a regional approach to address the water demand, as studies indicate there isn’t enough ground water to sustain the growth.
Supporters believe the district would allow municipalities and water providers to better coordinate the water supply and help the cities handle the rapid development.
Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Decatur, and Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, wrote companion bills that call for forming the Wise Regional Water District to provide surface water as the county continues to grow.
Last week, several mayors from Wise County cities sounded the alarm.
Rhome Mayor Kenneth Crenshaw said developers want more seats on the board so that they can gain more control.
“They are strong-arming us because they have deep pockets. This bill only affects Wise County. If this bill dies, who killed it and why?” he said.
Boyd Mayor Rodney Holmes wrote on Facebook, “This district is being formed to protect the wells that are here now and provide surface water to existing people who need it now and in the future. It’s not being formed for developers to control it and profit from it.”
He said lobbyists for the developers have gotten Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, and others involved to block the bill and “create havoc on the senate floor if Parker’s legislation is heard.”
He also wrote that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick “will let our bill die.”
Bettencourt said in an emailed statement to the Star-Telegram that he does not support the bill because the board members are appointed and not elected by the people, and that cities and other member entities can transfer property tax dollars to the water district.
“This proposed additional layer of county government with an unelected Board of Directors having county-wide eminent domain powers, is not a good government model. Every tax bill or government reform bill I have supported has a vote of the people to elect their representatives! SB 1359 does not afford voters that option and it will allow transfers of ad valorum (property) taxes for any taxing entity associated with the Water Control district,” Bettencourt said.
Parker’s office did not return calls seeking comment.
When reached on the House floor, Hopper said Parker is working on the legislation. “We want this water district to go forward, that’s what we’re fighting for,” Hopper said.
Peter Pincoffs, of PMB Capital, which is developing Reunion in Rhome’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, said in an email to the Star-Telegram that he isn’t opposed to the water district, and that he wants to see it move forward. The development is expected to have 8,000 homes.
“We agree that it is essential for everyone to work together to secure reliable surface water for Wise County. I’ve been very clear on that from the beginning of this effort, and I know the mayors and representatives from the county involved in this effort want the same thing,” he said.
Pincoffs said that he does not oppose the water district, but said the unincorporated areas of Wise County have a larger population than the cities, and and that the cities not have “absolute control” over its allocation.
Wise County has a population of 80,000, and the combined populations of the nine cities is about 25,000.
“Does it make sense for the 55,000 Wise County residents who do not live in the cities to have one representative?” he said.
He added that the disparity will only increase in the future.
For his part, Crenshaw said he is worried that Austin is gaining too much control over smaller cities, which could impact the area’s future.
“I’m really upset that politics are getting involved,” he said. “We’re not telling developers that they can’t have water. They just want to have control over this.”
This story was originally published May 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM.