City Of Fairfax: Public Meetings Scheduled To Present Proposed Stormwater Utility

Press release from the City of Fairfax :

10/13/2021 1:54 PM

The City of Fairfax has proposed implementing a stormwater utility to better fund its stormwater management program. Similar to utilities for drinking water and sanitary sewer service, a stormwater utility generates funding for stormwater management services. A stormwater utility would ensure city compliance with water quality regulations, help address the city’s backlog of drainage improvement projects, and support a new urban forestry program.

Currently, the city’s stormwater program is funded through a dedication of $0.03 of the city’s real estate tax rate. The city’s stormwater fund offers limited flexibility for funding program priorities, such as capital projects for both water quality enhancement and drainage improvements.

The current tax-based stormwater funding source is based on a property’s assessed value.  The proposed stormwater utility fee differs in that the fee is calculated based on the amount of impervious surface present on a parcel. Under a stormwater utility, properties with more impervious surfaces, which contribute more stormwater runoff to the storm drainage system, would pay a proportionally higher fee. A credit program has been proposed to provide owners with the option to offset their fee by participating in stormwater-positive activities.

Twenty-nine jurisdictions in Virginia have implemented stormwater utilities. If adopted, the new fee would appear on June 2022 real estate tax bills. The city manager has committed to formulating the fiscal year 2023 budget based on a reduction to the proposed real estate tax rate to account for the elimination of the $0.03 on the real estate tax that is currently allocated to the stormwater fund. The tax rate will be determined by City Council in May 2022.

A series of public meetings has been scheduled to present and discuss the proposed stormwater utility. Residents, property owners, faith leaders, and the nonprofit community are invited to attend and learn more about the proposed stormwater utility. The same general information will be provided at all meetings, but details will be tailored to each property owner group.

Meetings will be held at the Sherwood Community Center, located at 3740 Old Lee Highway. 

Wednesday, Oct. 20

Friday, Oct. 22

Monday, Oct. 25                         

Saturday, Oct. 20

To accommodate social distancing, please RSVP by email to StormwaterUtility@fairfaxva.gov at least a day before the meeting(s) you would like to attend. For more information about the proposed stormwater utility, visit Engage Fairfax. Comments and questions are encouraged. 

This press release was produced by the City of Fairfax. The views expressed here are the author’s own.