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Committee considers modest stormwater fee increases to fund Longstreet project
Summary
Staff recommended increasing the stormwater fee from $4 to $5 next year and to $6 the following year (a $2 rise over two years) to fund a $600,000 Longstreet project and longer-term stormwater needs; committee members discussed timing and equity of gradual increases.
Finance staff presented a stormwater master plan that identifies near-term projects including a $600,000 Longstreet project and longer-term work that would exhaust reserves if the fee remains at $4 per month. "So currently, the City of Sweet Home has a stormwater fee of $4 per month," Finance Director Matt Brown said, then outlined a scenario that would raise the fee to $5 on July 1 and to $6 a year later to build cash for the projects.
Committee members generally signaled openness to bringing a discussion of a modest increase to the city council; one member urged prioritizing the highest-ranked projects first and expressed concern about raising rates too quickly. Staff recommended starting the public conversation now so residents understand the tradeoffs before major projects begin.
