Resident urges council not to raise stormwater fee, says consultant used inflated expense figures

Murphy — During the Oct. 21 public-comment period, resident Maynard Little urged the City Council not to increase the city’s stormwater fee, saying a recent consultant-funded stormwater-fund analysis used inflated expense projections and omitted beginning-fund balance and projected new-construction revenue.

Little said the council approved the FY26 budget and a fee schedule on Sept. 16 and confirmed it via the Oct. 7 consent agenda, but that Ordinance “2,500 and nine‑thirteen 94 page 300 A8.002” indicates the stormwater fee will remain unchanged from FY25. He told council he met with the consultant who presented the fund analysis and that the consultant confirmed he did not use the beginning balance in the analysis and did not factor additional revenues from new residential and commercial development the city expects in FY26.

Little said the study showed certain drainage-improvement line items jumping from under $20,000 to $160,000 and then holding at $110,000 over subsequent years without identified new construction to justify those costs. He argued those assumptions produce a recommendation to raise rates and told council the facts show no increase in the stormwater fee is necessary.

Little concluded by thanking council for not increasing the fee in FY26. Council did not take formal action on the comment during the meeting; the statement was part of the public-comment record.