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Wilson County to weigh stormwater fee increases after staff flags $500K shortfall
Summary
County staff reported stormwater review fees average about $375,000 annually against a budget of roughly $856,000, prompting discussion of raising fees and possibly restructuring the fund; staff will return next month with proposed fee scenarios.
Wilson County commissioners heard a staff presentation on stormwater program finances and directed staff to return next month with proposed fee changes to close a roughly $500,000 shortfall.
James (stormwater staff) told the board the department completed audits with no violations and provided a set of comparative examples showing current Wilson County fees generate far less revenue on sample residential and commercial projects than neighboring counties. "For the residential example we used, we brought in $13,202.50," James said, while noting Rutherford County’s comparable fee estimate would have been about $162,000.
Aaron (finance staff) said the county’s average stormwater review fees over the last four years are about $375,000, while the department’s budget is roughly $856,000, leaving the program underfunded. "You’re roughly 500,000 short," Aaron said. Presiding officer Speaker 1 framed a potential approach: keep the existing $4,000,000 stormwater reserve intact but increase fees so the stormwater program can be self-supporting and free up about $800,000 now paid from the general fund if fees ultimately cover the budget.
Board members pressed staff on how closely Wilson County should align fees with neighboring jurisdictions and on the risk of multi-year downturns in development revenue. Several commissioners said they wanted a middle ground between higher-fee counties and lower-fee peers; Speaker 7 said staff would return with a "happy medium" after reviewing Rutherford, Sumner and other local county fee structures.
Members also discussed whether to treat the stormwater program as an enterprise fund. Aaron said original documentation directed stormwater fees to a stormwater reserve while operating costs were paid from the general fund; the board did not adopt a final policy at the meeting.
Next steps: staff will prepare proposed fee structures and additional comparative analysis for the board's review at the next meeting.
