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Cramerton hears stormwater fee analysis recommending phased ERU increases
Summary
Consultant Withers Ravenel presented a stormwater fee analysis recommending raising the monthly Equivalent Residential Unit charge from $3 to $6 in FY2024, $8 in FY2028 and $10 in FY2032 to address funding shortfalls identified by a 2022 NCDEQ audit. Commissioners asked about residential categories, comparisons with peer towns and whether the changes would satisfy future audits.
Withers Ravenel completed an analysis of Cramerton's stormwater program and presented recommendations for a revised fee structure intended to address inadequate funding identified in a 2022 NCDEQ audit. Steven Miller of Withers Ravenel presented the findings to the Board; Assistant Town Manager Josh Watkins and other staff answered commissioners' questions.
The consultant recommended charging a single residential rate and assessing nonresidential properties based on impervious surface. The presentation proposed raising the monthly Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) fee from the current $3 to $6 in fiscal 2024, $8 in fiscal 2028 and $10 in fiscal 2032 to cover capital and operating needs.
Commissioner Atkinson questioned whether a single residential rate fairly reflected variation in parcel sizes and suggested using tax values or property surveys to create residential categories. The presenter said many municipalities sample residential parcels to establish an average and that only a small number of towns have multiple residential categories.
Commissioner Helms asked whether implementing the recommendations would satisfy NCDEQ auditors; staff responded that meeting the recommendations is the intent and that the Town had submitted an updated stormwater management plan as part of the audit record. Mayor Nelson Wills asked about the largest nonresidential parcel called out in the analysis; staff said it is a Gaston County school.
Watkins noted that other municipalities have raised fees above $3 and cited Lowell’s increase from $3 to $6.75 following a similar analysis. Commissioner Kincaid asked whether smaller towns absorb stormwater costs through other utilities; staff replied some municipalities combine stormwater with water and sewer billing, but such approaches still tie charges to usage or impervious area.
The presentation did not prompt a board vote; it was for information and feedback. Staff said the intent of the proposal is to bring the Town into compliance with audit expectations and to fund identified capital projects. No changes were adopted at the meeting; further study and potential future actions were left to staff and the Board.
