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Smithfield council votes to collect stormwater utility fee on property tax, will seek legislative authorization
Summary
The Town of Smithfield council voted to place a future stormwater utility fee on property tax bills rather than on monthly utility bills and asked staff to pursue state legislative authority to allow collection on tax rolls. Staff cited a $500,000 state grant and an ERU study that recommends a $6-per-ERU monthly rate (about $72 annually per ERU).
The Town of Smithfield council voted to have the town collect a planned stormwater utility fee on the annual property tax bill and directed staff to pursue the state-level authorization needed to make that change.
Town Manager Mike told the council that the town previously accepted roughly a $500,000 state grant to complete an ERU (equivalent residential unit) fee study and infrastructure mapping. He said staff was not asking the council to set the fee amount or adopt an ordinance tonight but to decide how fees would be collected. "Staff's recommendation is to add it as a part of the property tax bill," Mike said, describing an annual payment rather than a monthly utility charge.
The council discussed two collection…
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