Continued Stormwater Utility Fee Increase In Alexandria Up For Approval

ALEXANDRIA, VA — With the annual city budget in Alexandria, the trend for the last few years has been increases in the stormwater utility fee. Another 5 percent fee hike is proposed for Alexandria City Council consideration.

The city's stormwater utility fee was first charged in 2018, with a large share going toward state and federal Chesapeake Bay water quality mandates related to stormwater quality. But as the city experienced more flash flooding events plagued by insufficient stormwater capacity, a fee increase was recommended to accelerate flood mitigation projects.

The continued Chesapeake Bay cleanup mandates and stormwater capacity projects factor into the continued stormwater utility fee increases being proposed, according to the city. The base annual fee for a small single-family house would increase 5 percent from $308.70 to $324.10, Mayor Justin Wilson's newsletter said. For condos, the base fee would increase from $86.44 to $90.75. The townhouse base fee would increase from $129.65 to $136.12. For larger single-family houses, the fee would increase from $515.53 to $541.25. The fee is split up into two bills charged in May and October each year.

The proposed fee increase would add another $1 million to the nearly $20 million in revenue produced each year.

"The increased rate would generate a total of $19.7M in funding annually, which would fund operating costs, accelerate storm sewer capacity projects, spot improvements, stream and channel maintenance, and storm sewer maintenance projects," reads a memo from Alexandria Transportation and Environmental Services Director Adriana Castañeda to City Council.

The fee for a small single-family home billing unit had been doubled from the original $140 to $210 in June 2021 and to $280 in November 2021. After that, 5 percent increases were each proposed in fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

On Tuesday, the City Council will have first reading and will vote on scheduling a public hearing on April 13. Final consideration is May 1, when City Council will approve the full fiscal year 2025 budget.

At select times during the year, residents and condo associations can apply for credits to their fee by implementing eligible stormwater management, landscaping or floodproofing measures.