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Panama City explores stormwater utility, in‑lieu fees and green infrastructure incentives
Summary
City Engineer Stacy Rausch briefed the commission on the condition of Panama City’s stormwater system and proposed financing options including a stormwater utility using ERUs, fee‑in‑lieu regional capacity and incentives for green infrastructure; commissioners signaled support for a targeted in‑lieu program rather than a city‑wide new tax.
City Engineer Stacy Rausch told the Panama City Commission that the city’s stormwater system is substantial and underfunded: the maintenance division has 39 staff, an annual budget of about $1,530,000 (with only roughly $55,000 identified for materials), nearly 6,000 stormwater inlets, roughly 900 manholes, 167 city‑owned ponds and more than 150 miles of drainage pipe. Rausch said GIS data may undercount some assets transferred from the county.
Rausch reviewed the regulatory baseline (the city’s MS4 permit, Florida Department of Environmental Protection standards and the Northwest Florida Water Management District guidance) and described green infrastructure options — bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavement pilots, living shorelines…
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