News
Stormwater Utility Gearing Up to Begin Billing
Apr 8, 2005 by Cail Hammons
Sample bills will arrive in mailboxes next week
Owners of developed property in Athens-Clarke will receive a sample bill for the new stormwater utility next week. The stormwater utility was approved by the Athens-Clarke commission in December. The sample bills give property owners a chance to see how much their stormwater fee will be when the real bills begin arriving in July.
Stormwater fee estimates have been available since November, but many property owners may be seeing the fee for the first time.
“It is important to get a sample bill out to all of the property owners,” explains Jason Peek the county engineer managing the utility implementation. “This gives people time to prepare for the new expense and time to let us know if any corrections are needed before the actual billing begins.”
The sample bill also includes instructions for property owners to apply for utility credits. Credits are discounts to the stormwater bill that are approved if the property is served by a stormwater management structure. These structures must meet certain design codes in order to be eligible for the fee reduction.
The county’s stormwater management program is expanding in response to federal requirements. The stormwater utility fee will provide $3 million in funding needed to support the program. The average single family homeowner will pay around $42 per year for the new fee.
More information about the stormwater management program and the utility billing is available on this website in the utility biling section.
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What to look for in your sample bill:
- Check the owner name, parcel number, property address, and mailing address for correctness.
- County impervious surface estimates are based on aerial photography that was taken in 2003. If the impervious cover (rooftop, driveway, sidewalks, etc.) has changed since 2003, a correction may be needed.
- If runoff from your property is managed by a stormwater structure like a detention pond, infiltration trench, or rain garden you may be eligible for a fee reduction. The structure must meet current design standards to qualify.
- Applications for corrections and credits are available on this website in the utility billing section.
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Media Contact: Cail Hammons (706) 613-3440 ext. 384
Tagged: stormwater utility, acc stormwater, athens stormwater, sample bills
