Stormwater Utility Fee Hike Heads To Public Hearing In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Another increase to the stormwater utility fee could be in the pipeline for Alexandria property owners.

On Tuesday, City Council had a first reading of an ordinance that would increase the stormwater utility fee by 5 percent for bills due on Nov. 15, 2023, and June 15, 2024. A public hearing is set for Saturday, April 15, and final approval would come with the full city budget approval on Wednesday, May 3.

Under the city manager's proposed budget, the stormwater utility rate for a small single-family home would increase from $294 to $308.70. According to Mayor Justin Wilson's newsletter, the proposed annual fee would be $86.44 for condos, $129.65 for townhomes, $308.70 for small single-family homes and $515.53 for large single-family homes.

The city's stormwater utility fee was created 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 fee for a small single-family home billing unit was doubled in two phases in the city's fiscal year 2022 budget. The fee increased from $140 per billing unit to $210 in June 2021 and to $280 in November 2021. The 5 percent increase in the fiscal year 2023 budget was smaller, increasing the fee from $280 to $294 per billing unit.

The proposed fee increase is expected to add $1 million more in city revenue. While the increase is expected to go toward accelerated flood mitigation projects, funds can also be used for street sweeping, leaf pickup, stormwater quality initiatives, and compliance with the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit.

The city offers a stormwater utility fee credit each year to property owners who complete certain stormwater management practices. The last application cycle was open Dec. 1 to Feb. 15.

Learn more about the proposed budget and how to provide comments at www.alexandriava.gov/Budget.