Culver residents’ storm water fee could soon be going up. The residential fee would increase from two dollars a month to $4.36, under a recommendation from a recent rate study. “So we’re more than doubling the revenue stream, and, therefore, we’re more than doubling the storm water rate,” Jeff Rowe with accounting firm Baker Tilly told the town council last week.
The fee for commercial properties would go to up to $8.73, while condos, hotels, and motels would be charged $17.42. The goal is to cover not only the operating costs but also about $189,000 in planned improvements.
Rowe said the increases could be phased in over three years, rather than taking effect all at once. Even after the increase, he said Culver would still be below the state average. Council President Ginny Bess Munroe added that the town has been able to make progress with storm water projects in recent years, but the fee hasn’t increased since it was put in place in 2009.
No action was taken on the recommendation, and Munroe suggested that the council might want to wait until a separate study on water and sewer rates is completed. Council members are expected to decide whether to let Baker Tilly move forward with that study at their next meeting.
