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Stormwater utility rate held flat for FY26; stormwater and utilities outline costs and staffing needs
Summary
DES and utilities staff told the County Board the stormwater utility rate will remain $258 per ERU in FY26, while outlining rising costs driven by MS4 permit obligations, capital needs, and a proposed new engineer position plus one-time tree canopy funding.
At a March work session, DES and utilities staff told the County Board they do not propose a stormwater utility rate increase for calendar-year 2025, holding the charge at $258 per equivalent residential unit (ERU). Staff said the decision relies on available fund balance and strategic use of reserves while noting long-term rate pressures tied to capital projects and regulatory obligations.
Nut graf: Staff said FY26 stormwater operating expenses rise about 7% due to workforce compensation, MS4 permit-related work, overhead chargebacks and one-time tree canopy funding; to support growing program needs they proposed adding one engineer (partially capital-funded) and providing stormwater funding for the tree canopy equity fund and tree planting.
Utilities staff also presented the utilities fund proposal: a proposed 4.1% overall rate increase across water and sewer customer classes to cover higher debt service, aqueduct purchases, electricity and chemical costs; the median residential impact was shown as about $31 per year. Proposed utility additions include a $100,000 large-meter testing program, $200,000 in one-time replacement equipment for valve-exercise trucks, and a dedicated training coordinator at the wastewater plant to support multi-grade operator career progression.
Board members asked about long-term pressures from the Chesapeake Bay and MS4 compliance and the growing number of stormwater management facilities that increase ongoing maintenance obligations. Staff said the county is staging investments to manage permit compliance and capital needs and will return with additional analysis as part of the CIP and budget adoption process.
Ending: Staff emphasized the flat stormwater rate is a near-term posture enabled by reserves and one-time funds, and warned the board the county will likely face rate pressure in coming years to finance capacity projects and permit compliance.
