The town council in Oro Valley, Ariz., voted 5-2 last week to approve a storm water management program rate increase. By early 2008, residents will pay a $2.90 monthly fee.
The rate increase goes into effect in January, and Oro Valley Water Utility customers will begin seeing higher bills in February, according to Town Spokeswoman Mary Davis. Customers who receive services through other water providers will receive quarterly bills, the first of which will go out in April, Davis said.
The new rate is based on 5,000 sq ft of an average residential property's impervious surface coverage, said Town Engineer Craig Civalier. Commercial properties will be charged a fee based on the residential standard, Civalier added. Customers with a commercial or nonprofit function may pay a $100 one-time application fee and participate in a storm water education program to earn a 25 percent credit, according to Civalier. The engineer noted that Oro Valley expects to collect approximately $735,000 annually from the fee. These dollars will help fund road maintenance and improvements, storm repairs, wash vegetation control and the hiring of a town storm water manager.
Source: Arizona Daily Star
