County of Brant introduces a Stormwater Utility Program

Proposed long-term plan could come with new line item on your property tax bill

By Casandra Turnbull

Hot on the heels of an approved 8 7% property tax increase, The County of Brant is proposing a Stormwater Utility Program that could put another monthly charge on your property tax bill.

The news was released last week, along with information on the long-term plan to manage stormwater in the face of climate change and rising costs due to aging infrastructure and advancements surrounding stormwater maintenance technology

Taxpayer feedback from two public consultation open houses will help county staff shape the long-term plan to create this new pay-per-use utility program.

County of Brant staff will host public information sessions where displays will further explain the scope of the plan and why they feel it will be beneficial for residents as the community grows. The first open house is scheduled on March 20th , from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Burford Community Centre and another one will take place on March 25th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the TF Warren Cainsville Community Centre. There are no planned open houses in Paris. An audio/video presentation will begin at 6:30 pm on both dates and staff will be on-hand for discussion and questions.

“The idea of a storm water utility is to properly plan for infrastructure maintenance and replacement. In a growing municipality there is new infrastructure to maintain every year and rigorous planning is required to keep the system maintained and in compliance with Provincial regulations,” explained Rob Walton, General Manager of Operations

Currently, most of the stormwater funding comes from the County’s general tax levy and the Rural Drainage Act The total budget of $525,000 is expected to rise to $1,000,000 over time to deal with the increased costs of aging infrastructure, climate change and the looming costs of cleaning storm water ponds

Providing a new and adequate funding model ensures stormwater management activities are proactive, not reactive, according to a staff report.

Also noted in staff report RPT-103-23, collecting a small fee across the urban drainage areas and then using this funding in a manner like water and wastewater utilities is a sound business and asset management decision.

You can click here to find out if you’re in the settlement area and would be subject to the tax charge, if approved by council. It is proposed that all residential properties with less than one acre of land, within the outlined settlement areas, pay a fixed rate of $12 a month (or $144 / year) Commercial properties equal to or less than an acre could be charged a fixed rate of $21.34 a month (or $256.08 / year). Larger residential and commercial properties will pay a fixed rate dependent on several variables, outlined on the EngageBrant FAQs However, a rebate program is being reviewed for Industrial, Commercial, Institutional, and Multi-Residential properties greater than 0.4 ha in size. Vacant (undeveloped properties), agricultural properties and cemeteries are exempt.

Both the EngageBrant website and the staff issued report have deemed this utility program as a vital investment in the future as Brant takes on new projects to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and adapt to a changing climate.

The stormwater utility charge, if approved, would apply to residents who directly benefit from the county operated and maintained stormwater infrastructure

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There are significant projects outlined in the Paris Flood Mitigation Master Plan, which remain unfunded, so money collected from this proposed utility program could also help fund those flood mitigation projects. Recognizing the scope of any flood mitigation project, the report as outlines that significant funding from upper levels of government will also be required.

"A stormwater utility is not only needed but crucial for the sustainable management of the County of Brant's stormwater,” said County of Brant General Manager of Operations, Rob Walton. “It will enable us to responsibly fund critical projects, such as building and maintaining stormwater infrastructure, implementing green infrastructure solutions, and enable us to protect our environment, public health, and property from the impacts of stormwater runoff.”

This utility type funding model is becoming more common across Ontario municipalities One of the first municipalities to adopt a stormwater management fee was the City of London in the mid-1990s with the intent of providing a stable funding source to maintain its stormwater infrastructure, to reduce the amount of combined stormwater and sanitary sewers, and to improve overall water quality. London has spent nearly $40 million since 2008 to separate 50kms of combined sewers.

The County of Brant’s stormwater program will be further developed and finalized following the public consultation period and upcoming open houses.

If you can’t make it to the in-person open houses, online engagement, including a survey, will be available until April 5th . Visit the EngageBrant website, take the survey and share your opinion here.