From: The Stormwater Utility: Will It Work in Your Community?
Fair Shares
A Closer Look at Eugene's Rate Structure
When Eugene implemented its comprehensive stormwater management plan in 1993, it also changed its rate structure from a flat stormwater fee to one based on impervious area. Realizing that the issue is more complex, however, and that people want to know exactly where their money is being spent, the utility divided the rate into three parts: impervious surface, administrative, and street-related components.
Residential properties are categorized as small (building footprint less than 1,000 ft.2), medium (building footprint greater than 1,000 ft.2 and less than 3,000 ft.2), or large. Small and medium parcels pay flat rates for impervious surface of $3.60 and $5.80 per month, respectively. Each also pays a $0.29 monthly administrative fee. Large residential parcels pay $2 per 2,000 ft.2 of actual impervious surface, plus a $0.92 administrative fee. Eugene's commercial and industrial properties pay $2 per 1,000 ft.2 of impervious surface plus a $0.92 administrative charge.
Because public roads constitute about 21% of the city's total impervious surface area, and because everybody uses them, each user fee includes a "street-related component" to cover a share of the road-related costs. For all residential properties, the street-related component is $0.99 per month in addition to the two other components. For commercial and industrial properties, the street-related component is an additional $0.70 per 1,000 ft.2 of impervious surface.
Property owners who install a stormwater mitigation system, such as a drywell, can have their impervious surface fees reduced, but the street-related component and administrative portion do not change.
November-December 2000
From: The Stormwater Utility: Will It Work in Your Community?
Fair Shares
A Closer Look at Eugene's Rate Structure
When Eugene implemented its comprehensive stormwater management plan in 1993, it also changed its rate structure from a flat stormwater fee to one based on impervious area. Realizing that the issue is more complex, however, and that people want to know exactly where their money is being spent, the utility divided the rate into three parts: impervious surface, administrative, and street-related components.
Residential properties are categorized as small (building footprint less than 1,000 ft.2), medium (building footprint greater than 1,000 ft.2 and less than 3,000 ft.2), or large. Small and medium parcels pay flat rates for impervious surface of $3.60 and $5.80 per month, respectively. Each also pays a $0.29 monthly administrative fee. Large residential parcels pay $2 per 2,000 ft.2 of actual impervious surface, plus a $0.92 administrative fee. Eugene's commercial and industrial properties pay $2 per 1,000 ft.2 of impervious surface plus a $0.92 administrative charge.
Because public roads constitute about 21% of the city's total impervious surface area, and because everybody uses them, each user fee includes a "street-related component" to cover a share of the road-related costs. For all residential properties, the street-related component is $0.99 per month in addition to the two other components. For commercial and industrial properties, the street-related component is an additional $0.70 per 1,000 ft.2 of impervious surface.
Property owners who install a stormwater mitigation system, such as a drywell, can have their impervious surface fees reduced, but the street-related component and administrative portion do not change.