The Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) has successfully convinced Olney, a small Texas city, to halt its monthly water surcharge imposed on RV parks.
Since 2022, the city had been assessing a $35-per-site fee to RV parks, a charge intended to support the upgrade of its 102-year-old water treatment plant. However, Over Yonder RV Park raised objections, prompting TACO to step in.
In response, TACO instructed its legal counsel to challenge the surcharge, leading to the Olney City Council’s decision to rescind the fee in a vote taken on September 9. TACO’s Executive Director and CEO Brian Schaeffer confirmed the council’s vote to cease the surcharge specifically for RV businesses with guests staying under 30 days.
Christine Taylor of The Towne Law Firm, representing both TACO and Over Yonder RV Park, had informed Olney officials in a July 8 letter that the surcharge violated recent Texas law changes.
Taylor explained in the letter that, as of the end of 2023, Texas law exempts campgrounds receiving non-submetered master-metered utility services from administrative water charges. She urged the city to consider a resolution that would prevent future charges, stating that Over Yonder should be excluded from additional fees applied to its utility bills. Taylor suggested the city retain the previously collected charges, provided it ceases further assessments.
The basis for TACO’s case was strengthened by a letter from Texas State Representative Ryan Guillen, who had sponsored the legislation mandating that RV parks and campgrounds be billed based solely on actual water usage, under Senate Bill 1268 passed in the 83rd legislative session.
In his letter, Rep. Guillen clarified that the intent behind the bill was to address disparities in water rates charged to RV parks compared to other commercial establishments.
Marla Pollitt, owner of Over Yonder RV Park, expressed her gratitude to TACO for their involvement in the case, acknowledging the significant financial impact the surcharge had on her business.
Pollitt highlighted that, without TACO’s intervention, she would have been left to navigate the charges on her own.
TACO’s involvement in legislative matters is part of its broader mission to support and represent the interests of campground and RV park operators across Texas. Based in Crowley, TACO serves over 430 campground and RV park operators, providing resources that range from legal and government affairs support to marketing.
