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Tucker staff propose $8 stormwater utility fee to accelerate repairs; council asked for more detail
Summary
Public Works staff told council that raising the stormwater utility fee from $6 to $8 per ERU would generate roughly $1 million annually and shorten the time needed to address deferred stormwater repairs; staff said the fund is an enterprise account and SPLOST contributes 8% to stormwater.
City public-works staff presented details on May 12 about a proposed increase to the stormwater utility fee included in the FY2026 draft budget. Ishri Sankar, speaking for the public-works team, said the stormwater fund is an enterprise fund dedicated to stormwater needs and that it “is locked into that specific need.” He said a fee increase from $6 to $8 per equivalent residential unit (ERU) would yield about $1 million more in annual revenue and would reduce the projected time to address deferred stormwater maintenance from about 17–20 years to roughly 14 years, by the staff’s quick analysis.
Sankar explained the mechanics: an ERU is equivalent to 3,000 square feet of impervious surface; the annual ERU charge would move from $72 to $96 per ERU. He also said the city transfers an 8% share of SPLOST (special-purpose local-option sales tax) revenue to the stormwater fund under the SPLOST allocations. Staff clarified that the stormwater enterprise funds routine right-of-way work (pipe cleaning, lining and replacements) and that stormwater components of larger capital projects often are budgeted separately under capital funds.
Councilmembers asked about use of stormwater funds for parks-related stormwater elements and whether the utility fee would apply to vacant lots, townhomes and multifamily properties. Staff said vacant lots are exempt, townhomes and multifamily parcels pay half an ERU per unit, and nonresidential properties are charged by impervious area.
No formal fee adoption occurred on May 12; the fee change was part of the budget introduced on first reading. Staff said they will return with final fee schedule language and updated revenue projections prior to the June 9 second reading.
