Stormwater Utility Tax/Fee Information
Urban stormwater is a major source of pollution in Salt Lake County water bodies. Addressing the problem of stormwater pollution at the municipal level can be expensive, from infrastructure to maintenance to implementing regulatory best practices. These needs have put pressure on municipalities to look for stable sources of revenue that extend beyond general tax appropriations for public works projects. Stormwater utility taxes and fees have been implemented by many cities to address he cost of maintaining municipal separate stormwater sewer drains and lines. The following resources are intended to help cities in the development, adoption and implementation of stormwater utility taxes/fees.
Stormwater Utility Planning Toolkit
Utah Stormwater Utility Fee Presentation (for Millcreek City Council)
Developing a Stormwater Fee to Support Stormwater Management (2020)
Avoiding the pitfalls in setting stormwater utility fees while getting stakeholder support
Center for Urban Policy and the Environment: Internet Guide to financing stormwater management
EPA Guidance for Municipal Stormwater Funding (2006)
Greater Boston Stormwater Financing Utility Starter Kit (has good information about taxes vs. fees)
“There are three basic methods that stormwater utilities use to calculate service fees. These are sometimes modified slightly to meet unique billing requirements. Impervious area is the most important factor influencing stormwater runoff and is therefore a major element in each method. ”
In the process:
SLCo Stormwater Coalition member, The City of Holladay, recentLY AdoptED A Stormwater Utility Fee
The City of Holladay adopted a storm water utility fee ordinance and storm water policy manual on December 3, 2020. The City is currently working to implement its new storm water program. See Holladay’s storm water program timeline.
More information at: Holladay20 Stormwater Information
Information about Coalition Member Cities Stormwater Utility Fee Rates:
Bluffdale (page 4)
Millcreek (page 9)
West Jordan (page 25)
Unknown/Unlisted or entities that do not currently have Stormwater Utility Fees: Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, South Salt Lake, Taylorsville, Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District
Example of Salt Lake City’s Stormwater Utility Fee as of January 1, 2021. Information from SLC Consolidated Fee Schedule, page 51
Stormwater Financing Videos:
Ever wondered what goes on beneath our streets? Us too. Watch this video to learn more about Millcreek's storm drains and what we're doing to solve the mystery of our inherited storm drain system. Still have questions? Check out our Storm Drain Utility Q&A here:
https://millcreek.us/DocumentCenter/View/1480/Storm-Drain-Utility-Q_and_A
Why on earth are we changed a Stormwater fee? Athens, Georgia. What is the stormwater fee for? Why do we have to pay it? Can't we do it in a different way? This video answers these questions and talks about how our stormwater utility relates to the Clean Water Act. Find out more information on stormwater on the ACC website: https://www.accgov.com/stormwater
Improving Return on Stormwater Investments Throuugh Crediting and Pay-For-Performance
This webinar, held January 31, 2019, provides an introduction to stormwater crediting and specific examples of pay-for-performance approaches in communities. Hear about how crediting can help you get more for your stormwater dollar and hear about successes, challenges, and lessons learned from Tennessee and Maryland.
Presenters:
Chad Praul, Founding Partner (Environmental Incentives LLC)
Erik Michelsen, Watershed Protection and Restoration Program Administrator (Anne Arundel County, Maryland)
Dave Smith, Program Manager (EPA Region 9)
Mo Minkara, Water Quality/MS4 Program Manager (City of Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Municipal Stormwater Financing
5 Tips for Talking About Polluted Runoff- Make the human connection
Older (but STILL relevant) General Information About Stormwater and Urban Runoff financing
Decisionmaker’s Stormwater Handbook: A Primer. Terrene Institute, Washington, D.C. Watershed Management Institute. 1997.
The Price of Progress: Infrastructure Payments You Can Live With. American City and County 112(5): 42-49. Matzer, John Jr. ed. 1989.
New Options for Stormwater Financing. APWA Reporter, April 1983 : 20-21. Cyre, Hector J. 1986.
Developing a Stormwater Management Utility. APWA Reporter, March 1987 : 8-9. Cyre, Hector J. 2000.
10 Issues in Urban Stormwater Pollution Control. American City and County, September 1996: 36-53. Pigott, Shaun. 1993.