Stormwater board introduces ordinance to commission cost-of-service rate study

The Delaware County Stormwater Board on Aug. 3 introduced Ordinance 2026-001, which would amend the county’s stormwater ordinance and launch an RFP to study stormwater service costs and potential rate changes. The board voted to authorize a cost-of-service study to support any future rate proposals.

Chair said the study would ask consultants to identify projects and analyze affordability over a 15–20 year horizon to recommend appropriate rates. “If you believe it's necessary to do a cost of service study, then we would want to go that direction,” the Chair said. County legal counsel clarified the process: “If you're going to do a study for what the rate should be, then we can send that out without public hearing,” adding that formally raising rates would require public notice and a hearing. The board approved the introduction with a motion and second and was unanimous in the voice vote.

The nut of the decision was procedural: the RFP route lets the board gather a documented financial analysis from a consultant (a ‘‘Baker Tilly’’-level firm, as the Chair characterized it) that ties projects, existing funding and an affordability index to any recommended increases. The board discussed coordinating with the drainage board to identify projects outside regulated drains that may fall under stormwater responsibilities. The next steps are to finalize the RFP language, circulate it to potential consultants and schedule any required public hearing if the board later moves to propose specific rate changes.