Stafford makes cuts to fund its stormwater system
By Vanessa Remmers, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
County staff was tasked with trimming a total of
The reductions became necessary after supervisors decided against implementing a half-cent stormwater tax that would have brought
In addition to funding the stormwater operating costs, the tax revenue would have helped cover the cost for state and federal mandates aimed at cleaning up the
Without the tax, county staff was charged with finding enough money to keep the county's existing stormwater system going.
The largest savings,
Staff said that they will continue to monitor the budgets closely to find the
About another
County Administrator
Supervisors haven't taken action on how to cover the mandate's cost after deciding against the stormwater tax. Supervisors had previously tossed around the idea of a stormwater utility fee. Unlike a stormwater tax that would have applied to the entire county, a utility fee would be based on the average amount of impervious surface a commercial or residential parcel contains. Impervious surfaces are those surfaces that do not easily absorb rainwater, and contribute to stormwater runoff.
County staff advised against the stormwater utility fee on Tuesday since the mandate's cost may change in the near future.
The
But, the DEQ warned, that could pass along some of the regulatory burden and the cost to the private sector in order for the reduced runoff requirements to be met.
Supervisor
The change in the definitions has been referred to a committee for recommendation.
"That is somewhat good news. Time will tell, I guess," Chairman
Also on Tuesday, supervisors approved new stormwater-related fees that will go along with the fees the county currently charges builders for development project applications and land disturbance permits.
The state has allowed localities to implement the fees to help offset the additional regulatory burden placed on
The state mandate requires
Many farm activities and land disturbance activities that disturb less than 2,500 square feet are exempt.
According to staff, the new fees would not make much of a difference in the amount builders currently pay. For a family home on 1.5 disturbed acres, the fees would drop from
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