• The storm water utility will be effective with utility bills due and payable on or after March 1, 2011.
• Storm Water Utility is the same as an electric, water or sanitary sewer utility. Properties pay a fee for a commodity they use.
• All properties pay a storm water fee the same as all properties pay for water, sewer and electricity.
• Revenues will be used for storm water repairs, improvements and new additions to the system.
• The residential fee would be $2 per month and is based on an average 3,400 sf of impervious surface. This would include all single family and two family residential properties.
• Commercial/industrial property fees will be determined by the number of average residential units (3,400 sf per unit) of impervious surface which is called an “equivalent residential unit”. The fee is $2 per month per ERU and is capped at 200 ERU’s. For example: 51,000 square feet of impervious surface = 15 ERU’s (51,000 sf divided by 3,400 sf) or $30/month (15 ERU’s multiplied by $2 per ERU).
• Gravel is not considered an impervious surface.
• City, county and school (tax-supported entities) shall be considered one property and therefore pay up to the 200 ERU cap.
• Property owners can appeal their monthly fee to staff who will review the information and then make a recommendation to council.
• If the amount of impervious surface changes, adjustments can be made to the monthly fee.
• Storms in 2008 and 2010 showed weaknesses in the Indianola storm water system. After review by an engineer with the assistance of the Street and Sewer superintendents, there is an estimated $800,000 expense for repairs and improvements to Indianola’s storm water system. The estimated
tax rate necessary to pay for this project is 25 cents.
• It is estimated that a storm water utility will reduce the tax rate by about 10 cents for current projects. (Stephen Court and South Buxton)
• The combined 35 cents would save a home valued at $175,000 about $29 annually compared to the $24 annual cost of a storm water utility.