News
Some Stormwater Utility Bills Delayed by Several Months
Oct 4, 2005 by Cail Hammons
Charges began last July
Most stormwater utility customers will not see their first bill until April 2006 according to county officials. The billing, originally slated to begin this month, has been pushed back due to complications with the computer software that will manage more than 30,000 stormwater utility accounts. The delay resulted from challenges in adapting existing computer software to handle stormwater accounts.
Utility charges for owners of developed property in Clarke County began accruing in July.
Most customers will receive a bill for nine months of utility service in April 2006. A second bill will be mailed staggered over June, July and August 2006 to utility customers. All following bills will be received on a quarterly basis.
The billing delay will not affect customers with monthly billing amounts of $100 or more. County officials have developed an interim billing system that will process bills to the customers who receive larger monthly charges. These customers can expect to receive the first utility bill in October with future bills following every three months.
Sample bills mailed earlier this year showed quarterly billing amounts for each property. Because the initial bill for most customers will reflect a nine month billing period instead of a three month billing period, the average single family homeowner can expect a bill of $31 for nine months of stormwater services.
Though the software improvements have resulted in a delayed mailing for the first stormwater utility bill, the needed upgrade will improve operations for at least four county departments. The transportation and public works, building inspections, public utilities, and planning departments all rely on the property parcel data used to generate the new stormwater bills. The upgrade will ensure that all departments have access to current property information.
The stormwater utility was enacted by the county commission in December 2004 and charges property owners a fee for stormwater services based on the amount of impervious surface on a property. Revenue raised by the utility funds the county’s federally mandated stormwater management program.
Stormwater Billing ScheduleBilling Customer When How much 1st billing Charges greater than $100 per month October 2005 3 months Charges less than $100 per month April 2006 9 months 2nd billing Charges greater than $100 per month January 2006 3 months Charges less than $100 per month June, July, or August 2006 3, 4, or 5 months 3rd billing All customers receive a bill for one quarter of service, three months after previous bill.
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Media Contacts:
Jason Peek (706) 613-3440
Cail Hammons (706) 613-3440
Tagged: acc stormwater, bills delayed, technical difficulties
