Hutto City Council increased city water and wastewater impact fees after receiving results from a 2012 study that looked at fees it had originally implemented in 2006.

State law requires that cities re-evaluate the criteria used to implement impact fees every five years. The study, done by engineering firm HDR Engineering, found that the increase was needed to cover future development. After establishing a committee to look at an increase, City Council approved the higher fees at its Jan. 17 meeting.

Impact fees only affect new residential and commercial development in a city after they are enacted. Money from the fees is used to pay for improvements that might be needed to a system after increased use. In the case of Hutto's water and wastewater, fees will be used to improve water pumping, transmission, water supply and other factors.

"The idea behind them is that if you've been a resident of a town for 20 years, you shouldn't have to pay for new growth, you've paid your part," Hutto Assistant City Manager Micah Grau said. "It really places the new burden of infrastructure on the new development that's causing it."

One-time cumulative water and wastewater fees are now $5,753 per living unity equivalent, an increase of $322, and take effect Feb. 1, according to the City of Hutto. One LUE is enough to serve one residential household with a standard three-quarter or five-eighths of an inch water meter.