Indiana officials approve increase to stormwater user fee in Elkhart County
(UC) — During a meeting of the Elkhart County Board of Commissioners held on Monday, plans to raise the stormwater user fee in the county overcame another obstacle.
According to Goshen News, the commissioners passed an ordinance at the meeting that calls for an increase to the stormwater user charge, which is now assessed twice a year on county property tax bills.
The stormwater user charge, which was established in 2006 at a rate of $1.25 per month or $15 annually, is used to pay for the partnership's activities in aiding in the implementation of the MS4 plan.
As intended, each partnership member has a role in determining the stormwater user fee's amount, and before the user fee can be raised, all members must concur and approve legislation within their respective governments.
The county partnership's stormwater user fee hasn't gone up since it was established in 2006, making it one of the lowest in the area and significantly less than the state average, which is $5.74 per month or $68.88 annually.
The partnership recently contacted consulting CPA firm Baker Tilly to do a stormwater user fee assessment because the fee rate has never been altered. According to that evaluation, the partnership as a whole presently receives around $2.6 million in stormwater user fees each year, although its yearly budget requirements total about $3.7 million, leaving a $1.1 million gap.
As a result, the firm suggested increasing the stormwater user charge to $3 per month, which would satisfy the demands for each stormwater agency to advance and carry out what is necessary for their communities.
According to the proposed plan, the user charge would gradually rise to $3 per month over three phases starting with the billing in the years 2023, 2026, and 2029. The yearly stormwater charge for the county would rise from $15 to $22.05 in 2023, $29.10 in 2026, and eventually $36.10 in 2029 as a result of this adjustment.
By a vote of 2-1, the fee increase request was granted. Commissioners Frank Lucchese and Suzie Weirick cast yes votes.
The user fee hike request will now advance after Monday's approval by the Elkhart County Council for final review.
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