What is a stormwater utility fee?
Because the city’s General Fund and SPLOST proceeds do not provide sufficient funding for the Stormwater Utility program, the City has adopted a stormwater utility fee to provide an adequate and stable source of funding for the Stormwater Utility program. It is a "fee for service" based on the amount of impervious surface area (hard surface that does not absorb water such as roofs, parking areas, sidewalks, etc.) on a property; all eligible properties are charged regardless of their tax status. Just as it is with the municipal water and sewer system, the stormwater utility fee is proportional to the services provided. This approach has several advantages. First, it fairly distributes the cost of the City’s stormwater services across all eligible properties based on the amount of impervious surface. Second, in accordance with state law, the revenue from fees must be placed in a fund that can only be used for stormwater management activities. Therefore, it establishes a dedicated funding source to accomplish the goals of the Stormwater Utility.

Show All Answers

1. Who do I call if I have questions about the Stormwater Fee or Program?
2. How will I get a bill for Stormwater?
3. What is my fee and how is the fee calculated?
4. What is stormwater runoff?
5. What is a Stormwater Drainage System?
6. What is the Stormwater Utility program?
7. Who benefits from the Stormwater Utility?
8. What is a stormwater utility fee?
9. How can I check to see how the funds are being spent?
10. What will the stormwater utility fee pay for?
11. What are some specific projects that are planned?
12. Why can’t the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program pay for stormwater maintenance?
13. What can I do at home to help reduce stormwater runoff and improve the community’s water quality?
14. How is the City’s stormwater drainage system regulated?
15. How do I obtain additional information about the Stormwater Utility program?
16. How was the impervious surface information calculated?
17. Does dirt/gravel/crush and run count as impervious?
18. How do I file an appeal of my impervious information?
19. What is a Stormwater credit and how do I apply for it?
20. Can I prepay my Stormwater fee?