Basis for Stormwater Fees

The stormwater fees that are collected will be used equitably across the Authority service area. Over time, the funding will be equitably spent in the same areas from which it was collected.

The stormwater fee is based on the amount that each property contributes to stormwater runoff. Aerial photos and Assessor records are used to determine the fees. The fees provide an equitable assignment of costs, because customers will pay fees in proportion to the demand placed on the drainage system by their property’s runoff.

The level of stormwater management service provided by the Authority will affect the fee level. The Authority must set the fees to levels such that there are funds available to properly manage stormwater and to meet NPDES regulatory requirements.

Impervious surfaces in commercial area

Background Information

Property owners within the Authority boundary will be assessed a fee beginning in January of 2007 and will receive stormwater management services. Some property owners may have already been paying a stormwater fee, but that fee will be discontinued and replaced with a fee paid to the new Authority.

Stormwater must be managed for the common good, as runoff does not follow subdivision or community boundaries. Storm drain systems in areas outside your neighborhood where you shop, work, or travel, help keep you safe. Your quality of life, the value of your property, and the health of the environment are related to how well these storm drain systems are maintained. Without maintenance of the system, streets and subdivisions can become flooded and impassable after heavy rainfall.

During small rain events, runoff may generally be contained on a property. However, during larger storm events, the soil becomes saturated and runoff will flow from a yard into the storm drain system. For these reasons, and the reasons further above, the stormwater fee is not reduced because a gutter drains onto a yard.

The stormwater fee will help to cover the cost of design, construction, and maintenance of stormwater facilities. It will also help us institute a means to reduce pollutants that may enter our waterways.

Need for Fees and Benefits Received

A stormwater fee is needed in order to fund the various stormwater management, flood control, and environmental compliance efforts that the Authority will take on. The fee will fund the activities detailed in the What We Do section.

Economies of scale, greater efficiencies, and better levels of service can be achieved through the formation of the Authority. The fee will allow the Authority to begin to address the capital improvements and provide for remediation and maintenance of facilities (storm drain pipes, catch basins, inlets, detention ponds, etc.). Currently, needed stormwater projects are estimated to cost $76 million.

Other Entities that Charge Stormwater Management Fees

Fees for stormwater management are charged by Aurora, Littleton, Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority, and many others. Over 20 communities across Colorado charge stormwater fees, as do many others across the United States. The chart below shows several communities across Colorado that charge stormwater fees. The figure below shows the average monthly stormwater fee charged to single family residences in these other communities.

Public Information and Outreach

The Authority is providing information about its stormwater fees through the web site, news releases, public or group meetings, and mailings to property owners. The fee will be reviewed by the Authority over time to ensure that it is adequate to address the needs of the community.

Calculating Stormwater Fee Rates

In 2007, the average single family residence paid $6.50 per month. This rate differs from others shown in the chart because of the characteristics in the Authority's service area as follows:

• Aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance
• Our large inventory of remedial CIP projects
• Other entities don’t fund a “Full Program,” so their fees are low
• New federal regulations are now coming into play

Calculation of Impervious Surface

SEMSWA calculates impervious surfaces by using aerial photography of each parcel within the SEMSWA area, using a Geographical Information System (GIS) and using County Assessor records. The GIS software, ArcGIS, provides specialized tools for data integration and management, visualization, spatial modeling and analysis, and performing sophisticated spatial analysis. The aerial imagery from which we measured impervious surfaces was taken in the spring of 2006. The horizontal accuracy is better than +/- 1 foot. From these files, the impervious surfaces are identified and measurements of the impervious surfaces are calculated. The County Assessor records were used for parcel number, owner, property address, mailing address, single family residential or non-single family residential class, total parcel area, and parcel boundary. These records were obtained directly from the County in late 2006, immediately prior to assigning stormwater fees.

To get the measurements of impervious surface for your property, you may email us (see Contact Us) or call the SEMSWA Customer Service Center at 303-858-8844. We will need the address for the property and parcel number (identified as the “Schedule #” at the top of your Property Tax Statement). We can assist you in identifying the parcel number.

Fees for Growth and New Development Infrastructure

A separate stormwater fee, called a System Development Fee, will be charged to developers to pay for their stormwater infrastructure. Therefore, the fee paid by owners of existing developed properties will not be used for new development.

Setting, Implementing, and Billing the New Fee

The Authority has adopted a resolution authorizing collection of fees from property owners. The level and structure of the fees were finalized in November 2006. The new fee went into effect in January of 2007 and will appear annually on the County tax bill. Although the fee appears on the County tax bill, it is a fee for service, as authorized by the State of Colorado.

Some smaller special districts may have already been collecting a stormwater fee, but that fee will be discontinued and replaced with the fee paid to the new Authority.

Fees for Single-Family Detached Residences

For 2008, the median single family detached property in the SEMSWA service area will pay $82 (or $6.83 per month). A detached residence is a stand-alone home, and does not include condos or townhomes.

The 2008 stormwater rate structures is as follows:

Fees for Non-Single Family Detached: Commercial / Governmental / Non-Profit / Condo & Townhome Properties

The fee is based on the equation below. Fees will range from about $50 per year for small properties to over $10,000 per year for properties with large areas of impervious surface. This equation applies to condo and townhome complexes. Condos and townhomes may pay a prorated share of the costs due for the entire condo/ townhome complex (including common area impervious surfaces).

Fee Equation for Commercial / Governmental / Non-profit / Condos & Townhomes

Rate x Property’s Impervious Area = $ Fee

Sample: $24.818 (rate) x 27 (1,000 sq. ft.) = $670.09 / year

Dispute of Fees: Policy & Process

The following two sections describe the SEMSWA Board policy regarding instances where property owners may dispute the fee assessed by SEMSWA, the grounds for such a review, and the review process. The first policy relates to disputes regarding the amount of impervious area calculated for a parcel, and the second policy relates to dealing with contiguous parcels for non-single family residential properties.

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