back to news releases

May 12, 2005
David F. Byron, APR
Community Information Director

COUNTY PROPOSES STORMWATER FEE INCREASE TO ADDRESS FLOODING, POLLUTION CONCERNS

Last year’s hurricanes brought to light Volusia’s vulnerability to flooding during periods of heavy rains. Residents in low-lying, flood prone areas throughout Volusia’s cities and unincorporated areas were forced to deal with the hardship and financial burden of homes that were flooded out.

“During the dry times we tend to forget that Florida has a lot of low land that’s vulnerable to flooding when there’s an unusual amount of rain,” said Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno. “Last year’s three hurricanes showed us just how serious flooding can be for residents and the government agencies that have to respond.”

As a result, Volusia County is proposing to increase its annual stormwater fee to generate additional revenue to address an estimated $25 million in identified stormwater management, flood control and pollution projects. Some Volusia cities also have raised or are considering raising their stormwater fees to address flooding problems that were highlighted by last year’s hurricanes.

The county administration is recommending the stormwater fee be increased per single-family dwelling from $30 annually to $72 annually, although the County Council could increase the fee as high as $96 annually. The county uses the annual property tax bill as a method to collect the nonproperty tax assessment. State law requires a tax certificate be issued for nonpayment that could result in a loss of title to the property.

The fee is calculated on a formula that defines an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) as 2,775 square feet of impervious surface. The majority of developed properties in unincorporated Volusia would be one ERU. As an example, a nonresidential property that has 27,750 square feet of impervious surface would equal 10 ERUs multiplied times the amount of the fee.

“We haven’t raised our stormwater fee since it was first levied in 1993,” Bruno pointed out. “Originally, the fee was a startup revenue source to fund watershed management plans. Today, we have more than $25 million in longterm capital needs. This includes projects that will reduce some of the runoff that pollutes our rivers and lakes. With additional revenue we’ll also be able to increase the frequency of our maintenance of storm drainage systems.”

However, even with additional revenue from a higher fee, Bruno cautioned residents not to expect that all drainage problems in the county can be addressed. “If we have more money we can make some progress, but neither the county nor any of the cities has the wherewithal to eliminate all flooding, stormwater management and pollution problems. In Florida, that’s just not realistic.”

If the County Council adopts the $72 rate being recommended by the administration, the fee would generate $4.6 million annually for stormwater, drainage, pollution improvements beginning with the tax bills mailed this October.

In an effort to inform the public of the proposed fee increase, the County has mailed 47,200 letters to the owners of developed properties in unincorporated Volusia. If the County Council adopts the staff recommended fee, the amount of the county’s fee would be about in the middle of stormwater fees assessed in Volusia County.

The Volusia County Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed fee increase June 2 at 9:35 a.m. as part of its regular meeting. The meeting will be in the County Council’s chambers at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., in downtown DeLand.

More information on the proposed fee increase including a list of proposed projects is available on the county’s website, www://volusia.org/publicworks/fees.htm.

back to news releases

.