ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

(a) The governing body of a local government may determine that it is convenient and advantageous to establish a program under this chapter.

(b) An authorized representative of the local government that establishes a program may enter into a written contract with a record owner of real property in a region designated under this chapter to impose an assessment to repay the owner's financing of a qualified project on the owner's property. The financing to be repaid through assessments may be provided by a third party or, if authorized by the program, by the local government.

(c) If the program provides for third-party financing, the authorized representative of the local government that enters into a written contract with a property owner under Subsection (b) must also enter into a written contract with the party that provides financing for a qualified project under the program to service the debt through assessments.

(d) If the program provides for local government financing, the written contract described by Subsection (b) must be a contract to finance the qualified project through assessments.

(e) The financing for which assessments are imposed may include:

(1) the cost of materials and labor necessary for installation or modification of a qualified improvement;

(2) permit fees;

(3) inspection fees;

(4) lender's fees;

(5) program application and administrative fees;

(6) project development and engineering fees;

(7) third-party review fees, including verification review fees, under Section 399.011; and

(8) any other fees or costs that may be incurred by the property owner incident to the installation, modification, or improvement on a specific or pro rata basis, as determined by the local government.