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Hampton proposes $1 monthly stormwater fee increase to fund more frequent ditch maintenance
Summary
Public Works Director Jason Mitchell proposed raising the stormwater fee from $10.83 to $11.83 per month to fund enhanced maintenance that would move open-ditch cleaning toward monthly service in summer months; staff said the change would reduce neighborhood flooding and keep the system flowing to the Chesapeake Bay.
Public Works Director Jason Mitchell told council the stormwater program needs more maintenance funding to reduce neighborhood flooding and better maintain the city's ditches and basins. He said the city currently maintains most open ditches about once a year and that a $1/month increase in the stormwater fee would enable more frequent maintenance, with target cleaning moving toward monthly in the summer.
"For the majority of the open ditches like the one you see on your screen, we generally maintain these one time a year. At best we can get through them twice a year," Mitchell said, explaining that an increase from the current $10.83 monthly fee to approximately $11.83 would allow the department to expand maintenance frequency. The city has about 200 miles of open ditch, he added, and the proposed increase would keep Hampton's fees lower than many regional peers even after the change.
Council members asked about the maintenance frequency and future projections; Mitchell said the $1 increase is the immediate recommendation for FY24 and that the stormwater model projects later adjustments in subsequent years as needed.
