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1. What is a stormwater fee?

The federal Clean Water Act mandates that cities must comply with stormwater regulations; however, funds are not provided to these subject municipalities for the required stormwater management. Therefore, stormwater fees are one method municipalities can choose to raise funds to oversee these mandated requirements. Cities can levy fees based on a variety of standards, but one of the most common methods is to base them on the amount of impervious surfaces (surfaces like concrete and roofs, where water can't seep into the ground) on a property. In these cases, property owners with more impervious surfaces pay more than those with less impervious surfaces.

2. How does this benefit the average taxpayer?

When our water is polluted, we all pay in one way or another. Damage from urban flooding can raise merchant prices and insurance rates. Sediment and pollution laden water takes more money to treat before it can be used for drinking water. Tourism and recreation businesses suffer along with residents when swimming, fishing and boating are curtailed. Shellfish become more expensive and harder to harvest when shellfish beds close. And the list goes on. 

Because everyone plays a role in creating the pollution in stormwater runoff, we all have a role in cleaning it up.

3. How long has there been a stormwater fee?

In August 2003, the Abilene City Council approved the creation of the Stormwater Services Division and passed a stormwater fee to fund the new division. The fee is based on how much runoff surface (Hard Surface Area) exists on a piece of property, not the actual or theoretical stormwater runoff.

Please see the Stormwater Services Fee Rates for more information.

4. Why is the fee based on Hard Surface Area?

There is no way to measure stormwater from each property; therefore, Hard Surface Area (or impervious cover) is a good "indicator" of the amount your property will generate. Most cities in Texas that have a stormwater fee are using Hard Surface Area as the basis for the fee.

Please see the Stormwater Service Fee Rates for more information

5. Why do we have a stormwater fee?

To fund the Stormwater Services Division, this includes:

• Maintenance on creeks, drainage channels, storm drains, detention ponds and any other drainage way within the city limits of Abilene
• Funding of drainage projects
• Watershed planning
• Compliance with state and federal regulations for stormwater management that assists in protecting the quality of stormwater runoff