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Surface Water Management Fee Increase: 2011 Executive Proposed Budget
2011 Executive Proposed Budget
Surface Water Management fee increase
The Surface Water Management (SWM) Fund has been challenged by declining revenues in a climate of increasing requirements. In 2011, annexations are projected to reduce SWM fee revenue by almost $2 million. In addition, obligatory costs such as National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements comprise an increasing proportion of the Surface Water Management work program.
In order for the division to continue to protect and enhance King County’s natural resources, the 2011 Executive Proposed Budget includes a proposed $32/parcel increase to the current residential SWM rate from $111/parcel to $143/parcel. Commercial rates will be adjusted proportionately. This increase will align the County’s rate with the regional median rate, with half of other local governments’ current stormwater rates higher than the proposed rate. Other jurisdictions also have plans to increase their stormwater rates to address the NPDES requirements.
The details regarding the programs funded by new anticipated SWM fee revenues in the 2011 Executive Proposed Budget are as follows:
| Surface Water Management Fee Increase Proposal | |||
| Operating | $ |
FTEs |
|
| Cedar River Council Coordination | 129,284 | 1 | |
| Ecological Monitoring | 310,000 | 2.5 | |
| Snoqualmie Forum Coordination | 214,484 | 1 | |
| Operating Subtotal | 653,768 | 4.5 | |
| * This includes program coordinator, additional staff support for WLR Science, and supplies. | |||
| SWM CIP | $ |
FTEs |
|
| Staff Support to CIP | 267,718 | 4.3 | |
| Public and Property Protection | 1,323,000 | ||
| Agriculture Drainage Assistance | 87,000 | ||
| Neighborhood Drainage Assistance | 232,000 | ||
| Habitat Restoration | 2,039,100 | ||
| CIP Subtotal | 3,948,818 | 4.3 | |
| Rate Reserve | 340,414 | ||
| 2011 Total | 4,943,000 | 8.8 | |
The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks plans to utilize the anticipated increase in SWM fee revenue for the following prioritized purposes:
- Restore planned reductions to water quality monitoring programs
- Increase the Capital Improvement Program
- Restore depleted SWM fund balance
The SWM revenues benefit the entire region by funding programs that protect, restore, and monitor habitats, ecological functions and aquatic conditions. As future annexations and incorporations will further erode SWM fee revenues in the future, use of this new revenue is targeted towards programs that will provide benefits even if funding is only available for a limited time. This is why the funding is programmed primarily towards one-time capital projects and monitoring programs that will have ongoing benefits.
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