Stormwater Fee for Citizens
Last night at the Stallings Volunteer Fire Department officials from Stallings and Indian Trail outlined how the towns will implement a Stormwater Utility and corresponding fee for each town. Fortunately for the citizens, 2 members of the press were there and will report in the Union Observer and the Edge. The bad part is that no one outside of officials from the towns, committees other than myself showed up to hear this presentation.
Let me give you the highlights:
1. The government has mandated this action be taken by the towns. In fact 33 counties and 123 cities and towns are included in this GOVERNMENT UNFUNDED MANDATE.
2. If the towns do not implement this mandate they will face hefty fines and no sewer access.
3. The Stormwater utility will collect fees. The fees will go to fix problems related to flooding in the towns.
4. The Utility will charge each homeowner, business, nonprofit owner as long as the land has been improved. Flat fees will be charged in the first year and be charged to the Tax bills coming in October 2007 for the 2008 tax cycle.
5. Each homeowner can look for an additional fee attached to their tax bill of $42.00 this year. Business and $200 for all other non residential parcels. In the future, the town will look at tier costs based on the impervious surface amount. The fees have been recommended by the Stormwater committee and will be presented to the Council at the June 11th meeting. So at this point the fees are only suggestions.
6. The towns have no choice in the matter.
7. More information can be gotten from the town website or town hall.
posted by Lee Godwin at
10:01 AM
2 Comments:
I think the flat fees at the onset of the program are out of line.
My Indian Trail total taxes for 2007 have increase 214% over year 2006
Dear Anonymous,
You speak of the fees at the onset and that your taxes in Indian Trail have gone up 214% for 2007?
From my memory I know of the .05 cent tax increase which on a 100,000 home equals is $50.00, the stormwater fee the way I remember it was 40 or 42 for residential. Without knowing anymore particulars I find it hard to imagine your taxes going up 214%. I guess though anything is possible.
The Stormwater phase II was manifested by the fact the town grew so fast. The government left the town no way out and had to proceed with no money for anything going forward. A stormwater fee had to be charged and was done so on the recommendation of the stormwater committee and the expert. My understanding is the fees will be going up next year also, with a tier system for assesment. Please remember, that the taxes as much as I hate to admit it, were held down artificially *my opinion* and now due to all the approvals for residential both new and brought in, the taxes have had to go up. The good thing is that the added taxes can be written off on your taxes and the town will have money to fix flooding issues across the town and other stormwater projects.
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