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Stormwater Utility Fee

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1. What is a Stormwater Utility Fee?

A Stormwater Utility Fee is a user charge for stormwater services. It is the same as a fee for garbage collection or the availability of water or sewer service at your home or business. The Stormwater Utility Fee enables the County to meet its responsibilities to manage the storm drain system, study the contents of stormwater, seek out and eliminate illicit connections and illegal discharges, and enforce codes more strictly.

2. How did Pasco County develop its stormwater utility program?

The stormwater program has been in place for many years. In 2007 a citizens' task force evaluated the stormwater program to determine whether a higher level of service was needed. The task force recommended the County implement a Stormwater Utility Fee which was adopted in 2007.

3. Will the revenues from the fee go to the General Fund for everyone to use?

No, the revenues are kept in a separate fund that can only be spent for stormwater activities.

4. Why does Pasco County have a separate fee for stormwater management?

By establishing a dedicated funding source through stormwater fees, the County can ensure that revenue required to manage and maintain this important system is available. A fee based on impervious surface area is an equitable way to allocate costs and collect revenues for this program.

5. Why do I have to pay the Stormwater Management Fee?

Every developed property, and those with 400sf or more of impervious surfaces, has to pay this fee. It is used to improve water quality in the County and to maintain our drainage system to avoid flooding. If you need additional information, contact the Stormwater Management Division at (727) 834-3611.

6. What is impervious surface area?

An impervious surface is any hard surface that does not absorb water and impedes the natural flow of water into the soil. In general, impervious surfaces include building roofs, roadways, driveways, parking lots, and basketball or tennis courts.

7. What is stormwater runoff?

Stormwater runoff is the water that flows off roofs, driveways, parking lots, streets, and other hard surfaces during rain storms. Rather than being absorbed into the ground, it pours into ditches, culverts, catch basins and storm sewers.

8. Why is stormwater runoff a problem?

Stormwater can carry harmful pollutants, cause flooding, destroy aquatic habitat, erode topsoil and stream banks.

9. Where does water pollution come from?

Water pollution is difficult to trace to a specific source, but some common pollutants include fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, sediments, oils, salts, trace metals and litter. Pollution can come from farms, yards, roofs, construction sites, automobiles, pets and people.

10. The County has always had storm drains. Why am I being charged?

Federal regulations require a comprehensive stormwater quality management program that necessitates that the County takes an active role in managing stormwater. The Stormwater Utility Fee enables the County to meet its responsibilities to manage the storm drain system more closely.

11. Why is a stormwater fee more equitable than a tax?

A property's value does not affect stormwater runoff, so property taxes are not the most equitable way to pay for stormwater services. The fee system ensures customers pay only for runoff they produce.

12. Why will nonresidential and tax-exempt properties be required to pay?

All customers within Pasco County, including federal, state and County-owned properties that have impervious surfaces must pay regardless of ownership or tax status. They must pay because they generate stormwater runoff that the County has to manage.

13. Will I still be charged even if it does not rain for a long time?

Yes, stormwater charges are not based upon the frequency or amount of rainfall.

14. What am I going to get out of this fee?

The revenues from this fee will be used to reduce the occurrence of street and structural flooding, provide better planning for the future, increase the maintenance of the stormwater system, increase the frequency of storm system repair and reduce sedimentation.

15. Do other counties and cities have a stormwater fee?

In Florida, there are about 140 counties and cities with a Stormwater Utility Fee. The City of New Port Richey has a Stormwater Utility Fee. Other counties in Florida that have a fee include Bay, Brevard, Charlotte, Hillsborough, Leon, Marion, Miami-Dade, Sarasota, and Volusia.

16. How did the County determine impervious surface area?

Impervious area information is required for apartments, commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental and other nonresidential properties. It is based on information from the property appraiser's office.

17. What happens if I do not pay my bill?

Most people will receive the fee on their tax bill under the Non-Ad Valorem assessment section. If you do not pay it, the tax collector may sell a tax certificate on your property.

18. I currently claim a deduction on my income taxes for my property tax. Can I claim this fee as a deduction?

In general, for a residential property, it is not a valid income tax deduction for your taxes. For a business, the fee may be deductible. Contact your accountant or tax preparer for information on your specific situation.

19. I have retention ponds on my property that I pay to maintain. Do I still have to pay the stormwater fee?

Yes. The stormwater fee is designed to maintain and improve the County infrastructure, not private systems.

20. How is the stormwater utility fee charged?

The fees are paid in advance and cover the calendar year.

21. How can I be exempted from the stormwater charges?

Customers with less than 400 square feet of total impervious surface are exempted from the fee. Others that are exempted include public roads, railroad tracks, public airport runways and undeveloped property.

22. How can I reduce my fee?

Commercial properties can reduce their fee by reducing the amount of impervious area (e.g. providing more grassed and vegetated areas). There is no exemption or reduction available for single-family homes. Contact the Stormwater Management Division at (727) 834-3611 for more information.

23. Are there early payment discounts for the Stormwater Utility Fee?

Yes, the State of Florida tax discount payment periods apply as follows:

For all taxes assessed on the county tax rolls and collected by the county tax collector, discounts for payments made before delinquency shall be at the rate of 4 percent in the month of November or at any time within 30 days after the sending of the original tax notice; 3 percent in the following month of December; 2 percent in the following month of January; 1 percent in the following month of February; and zero percent in the following month of March or within 30 days before the date of delinquency if the date of delinquency is after April 1.

If the discount period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the discount period, including the zero percent period, extends to the next working day, if payment is delivered to the designated collection office of the tax collector.

24. What do I do if there is a mistake on my bill?

If you feel there is a mistake on your bill, you may submit an online request for review through our Customer Service Center. The County will investigate to determine whether or not a mistake has been made. If for some reason the County determines that the bill was correct, you can file an appeal through the appeals process. For additional information, contact the Stormwater Management Division at (727) 834-3611.

25. How is the equivalent residential unit (ERU) established?

The ERU is established annually by resolution approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in a public meeting usually in early September. The BOCC has set the value of an ERU at $95 and defined an ERU as 2,890 square feet. This area was arrived at by taking the entire area of all single family homes in 2007 and dividing by the number of single family homes. The entire area of a home includes driveways, sheds, patios and any other impervious surfaces.

26. How do you calculate the equivalent residential unit (ERU)?

A single family home pays $95 per year. The average impervious area in a single family home is 2,890 square feet, which is equivalent to one ERU. For commercial property, we calculate the number of ERUs by dividing the total impervious area by 2,890. The annual fee is calculated by multiplying the ERUs by $95.

27. Is there a stormwater fee ordinance in Pasco County?

Yes, Ordinance 07-18 outlines the stormwater fee ordinance in Pasco County. If you would like additional information, you can contact stormwater management at (727) 834-3611 or request additional information via our online Customer Service Center.