Stormwater Fees

What is The New Stormwater Fee?

By Jackie McGee, Broker Associate, ERA Shields Real Estate

By now you have probably received a bill regarding the new Stormwater Enterprise.  Here are the details:

In November of 2005, City Council approved the Colorado Springs Stormwater Enterprise a city-owned business that will operate, maintain and improve the stormwater infrastructure.  Until this time, Colorado Springs was the largest municipality in the state without a stormwater enterprise; in fact, some cities have had theirs for more than two decades. 

Currently there is approximately a $295 million backlog of stormwater needs, with $66.5 million earmarked for critical needs and $4 million for annual maintenance.

The Stormwater Enterprise will be funded by fees paid by property owners in the city limits, based on:

• Type of property (residential, commercial or non-profit)
• Amount of impervious surface (area that is not penetrable by water, such as rooftops, driveways, patios and parking lots, but not including landscape rock)
• Density of property (the percentage of impervious vs. pervious)

The average single-family residence will be billed less than $5 per month, with residential rates capped at $13.65 a month.  Fees will be billed quarterly, and the first 100,000 invoices were sent out at the end of February. 

Along with each invoice will be an aerial map of the subject property, showing the density of the lot based on the pervious and impervious areas, as well as the calculations used to reach the invoice total.

So, there you have it.  If you would like more information, log onto the website: www.springsgov.com and click on the stormwater enterprise link or call customer service at 385-5913.