Ferguson Township residents could be paying a new fee. Here’s what to know
Ferguson Township property owners could be paying an new fee to help cover the cost of managing the stormwater program — a proposal that’s been years in the making.
The township has seen a rise in costs to maintain its stormwater infrastructure as the system’s size and complexities have increased over the years. Additionally, the township is working to reduce pollution generated from water runoff to improve water quality. The proposed fee, which has been discussed since 2017, would likely be based on the amount of impervious area on a property — surfaces that prevent water from absorbing into the ground: Rooftops, parking lots, driveways and sidewalks.
Director of Public Works Dave Modricker presented the most recent draft of the ordinance to the township board of supervisors last week. Though the board has not made a decision on implementing the fee, some members believe it is a fair approach to address the township’s aging infrastructure, but others are divided on how best to bill property owners.
The proposed ordinance suggests property owners be billed based on 1,000 square feet of impervious area, but the township is also considering establishing an equivalent residential unit — a system-specific measurement that would be based on the amount of water consumed per property.
“We have these costs that are being incurred. Right now, we are paying them through taxes,” Steve Miller, supervisor and board chair, said at last week’s meeting. “I don’t think that’s the best way to do it. There will be a lot more that will be incurred over time as the system ages, and that’s the key thing we have to address is an aging system that will get more expensive if we don’t address it.”
The supervisors are also considering implementing a credit policy manual that would accompany the program to offset property owners’ obligations under the fee. Though nothing has been decided, staff recommends that the manual be established and that the maximum credit allowance be limited to 40% of the total fee per property.
Wanting to be fair to residents and mindful of financial challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, supervisors Laura Dininni, Prasenjit Mitra, Lisa Strickland and Patricia Stephens said they wanted to be mindful of how best to move forward with the fee and how to charge individuals if it’s enacted.
A virtual special meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 23, so the board can discuss the fee further and fine-tune how best to draft a final copy of the ordinance, fees and billing structure. A virtual public hearing will be held Oct. 5 where residents are invited to give input on the proposal.
“I have no desire to race across the finish line on this,” Dininni said. “I am very open to scheduling that time. I want to hear from residents. I want folks to understand we’re taking this seriously.”
