What is stormwater management (SWM)?
Stormwater is rainwater that “runs off” from impervious areas (rooftops, parking lots, driveways, etc.) and lawns at a much faster rate than it would from woods or large grassy areas. This runoff flows quickly through storm drain pipes into the City’s streams. It can flood streets, erode stream banks, and topple trees. Runoff also picks up pollutants such as grit, oil and heavy metals from autos, pesticides and fertilizers from lawns, and sediment from bare spots. These pollutants impair Rockville’s streams, the Potomac River, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. SWM facilities treat runoff by trapping pollutants and trash and slowing the water’s release rate, which reduces downstream erosion.
What is the City’s role in water resources?
The City of Rockville, through the Department of Public Works (DPW), plans and implements watershed management strategies to protect homes, businesses and the environment. DPW designs, builds, inspects and maintains public storm drains, and SWM facilities that reduce flooding, pollution and stream erosion. The department also oversees sediment control at construction sites, approves SWM for new developments, and handles drainage problems across the City. This vital SWM infrastructure is not only very expensive to operate and maintain, but the City is also faced with satisfying new water quality protection requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the City’s public storm drain system.
How are we paying for stormwater management now?
Because of the City’s rapid growth between 1978-2000, fees from new developments funded the majority of the City’s SWM costs for SWM facilities and stream stabilization. The remainder came from state and federal grants and interest income to the City’s SWM Fund. In Rockville, development is slowing while water resource needs have increased. By 2013, the SWM Fund will not be able to cover even the current SWM program’s costs without additional revenue. The City will continue to collect developer fees and seek grants, but additional funds are needed. Storm drainage and water quality programs are currently funded by the City’s General Fund, but not at levels that meet these mandates or provide for replacement when the storm drainage infrastructure reaches the end of its life expectancy.
What is a stormwater utility fee?
A SWM utility fee is a method for the City of Rockville to recover costs for the services we must provide while also satisfying public needs and stormwater regulations. This fee is structured to recoup those costs fairly and equitably. If no utility fee is enacted and collected, the SWM program will be financed by the General Fund, which is funded primarily by property taxes.
Why not fund the SWM program with property taxes?
The Mayor and Council considered this option. If property taxes were used, the greater burden of funding SWM falls on residential homeowners. The utility fee shifts the burden to property owners who contribute the most runoff. Stormwater runoff is directly proportional to the amount of impervious area on a property. By using the SWM utility fee that is based on a property’s impervious area, residential properties pay only about one-third of the dollars needed. This is equitable because single family homes account for about one-third of the City’s impervious areas.
How much will this fee cost for a single-family lot?
The SWM fee is estimated to cost $55.80 the first year (about $4.60 per month) for a single family lot. The rate is designed to gradually increase each year to reflect new services and construction cost increases. After five years, the single-family residential fee is estimated at $76.20 annually. If the costs of the SWM program were funded using the general fund instead of the utility fee, a $507,000 home would pay extra property taxes of about $122 in the first year and $181 by the fifth year.
Is Rockville the only community with a stormwater utility fee?
No. Stormwater utility fees are charged in many cities throughout the United States. Nearby communities that have implemented a stormwater utility fee include Montgomery County, Takoma Park, Prince William County, and Cities of Portsmouth and Chesapeake, VA all have SWM Utilities. Arlington County and the District of Columbia are in the process of establishing their own SWM utility fees.
What was the process to establish the stormwater utility fee?
In 2005-2006, the Stormwater Advisory Group (SAG) – consisting of residents, business owners and City staff – reviewed SWM issues funding options, and developed recommendations for the Mayor and Council. The SAG agreed programs were inadequate and needed to be strengthened and expanded. They also supported a utility fee, based on impervious area, to fund SWM programs. The Mayor and Council discussed the SWM program and the pros and cons of a utility fee in November 2006 and voted to proceed with implementing the SWM Utility. After further public outreach in 2007, the Mayor and Council introduced the enabling legislation for the SWM utility fee and the proposed rate structure. The Mayor and Council will consider adoption of the final legislation and the 2008 SWM Utility rate in April, 2008.
Who has to pay?
Everyone—all developed properties in the City with impervious surfaces will be asked to pay the stormwater utility fee. These properties include houses, apartments, businesses, stores, schools, churches, and public facilities.
Will churches, schools and governments be charged?
Yes, because this is a utility fee and not a tax – all users of the service will be charged. This utility fee, comparable to fees for sewer, electrical, and drinking water services, is based on the cost of the services provided. Because churches, schools and governments contribute stormwater runoff to the City’s streams from their parking lots and rooftops, they will be considered in the same manner as all other customers under this utility fee structure. The four highest SWM utility bills will go to Montgomery County Public Schools, City of Rockville, Montgomery County Government, and Montgomery College because of their extensive facilities within the City.
What will the money be used for?
Some of the major components of this program include:
Complying with the City’s NPDES permit (required by U.S. EPA and the State of Maryland), which includes watershed education and stewardship programs and discouraging illicit discharges to streams and storm drains; Ensuring State stormwater regulations for inspection and maintenance are met for SWM facilities; Maintaining, improving, expanding and, when necessary, replacing the City’s stormwater and storm drainage infrastructure to reduce flooding, improve stream quality and make the City attractive, safe and environmentally sustainable; Upgrading old SWM facilities or creating new ones in older areas of the City, as well as stream restoration and drainage improvements.
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