New Stormwater Fee To Appear On Real Estate Bills In 2018

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A new fee is coming to town, and that means City of Alexandria customers will see changes on their real estate bills starting in 2018.

The new stormwater fee will go into effect Jan. 1 as part of the budget Alexandria City Council approved in May. The increase is set in stone, but residents are still able to give feedback on a credit program to reduce the fees at an open house Thursday, Oct. 12. The meeting is at City Hall, 301 King St. in Sister Cities Room 1101, from 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

General stormwater management is currently supported by a 0.5 cent real estate tax rate.

Alexandria homeowners will pay an average $70 with the new stormwater fee. It will be higher for bigger houses, as it's calculated based on the amount of impervious surfaces on a property. For example, these are the average annual fees for different types of residential properties:

Nonresidential properties would have a variable rate based on $140 per each single billing unit of 2,062 square feet.

The fee will appear as a line item on May real estate bills. There are a few things property owners can do to minimize the fee. Nonresidential properties can earn credits to reduce the fee through practices such as rain gardens, porous pavers, and conservation landscaping. performing certain volunteer or group activities. A program for residential property owners is to be announced.

Alexandria residents have also seen the real estate tax increase by 5.7 cents in the fiscal year 2018 budget. This brings the city rate to $1.13 per $100 of assessed value, on par with neighboring Fairfax County.

Learn more about the stormwater fee and more here.

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