EVERETT — Some property owners in Snohomish County will see a steep increase in storm water fees next year.
The County Council approved the fee increases Monday.
The fee hikes are in response to new federal rules aimed at reducing, or keeping to a minimum, the runoff from oil- and exhaust-coated pavement that runs into Puget Sound.
“I don’t like the charge. But my biggest objection, as you said, is the people are paying the increase without being told about it ahead of time,” said Max Albert of Lynnwood. “That means there’s no debate.”
The fees will increase from $33.01 to $90 for single-family parcels in unincorporated areas not included in cities’ urban growth areas, and from $65 to $122 for single-family parcels within those areas. The fees are assessed on property tax bills.
For condominiums, the fee will rise from $29.71 to $81 outside the growth areas and from $61.71 to $113 inside the growth areas.
Farms and owners of commercial property will see similar increases, percentage-wise, based on formulas corresponding to the size and number of buildings and amount pavement on the property, respectively.
Some cities are also considering increases in response to the new federal rules, which require local jurisdictions to step up both their maintenance of catch basins and retention ponds and their inspections of commercial property.
The County Council voted 3-2 to approve the increases. Councilman Mike Cooper said the county, which is already planning layoffs in response to the economic downturn, doesn’t have the money to meet the requirements without the fee.
“The taxpayers are going to pay for it one way or another,” he said. “Either the state’s going to raise a fee to pay for it or we’re going to raise a fee to pay for it. I guess I would call it a social responsibility for us all to share the cost of clean water.”
In addition to the cleaning and maintenance, the fee pays for watershed management, restoration of salmon habitat, education programs, groundwater monitoring and a program to reduce pet waste.
This year, with the increase, they’ll also pay for groundwater monitoring, work on environmentally sensitive areas and staff support for a volunteer Marine Resources Committee.
Councilman John Koster was among those who voted no. While the state and the federal government have given $10 million to $12 million over the past three or four years to local jurisdictions to help them gear up for the changes, the county is already spending $6 million a year on storm water programs and the new requirements will add more than $11 million a year, Koster said.
He said he doesn’t doubt the programs have value, but if the state and the federal government are going to require them, they should pay more for them.
“We’re willing to do them, but show me the money,” Koster said.
Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.
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