Stormwater Utility Fee
The Stormwater Utility is an enterprise of the Town. The Utility provides for the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of stormwater facilities that safely drain and control the quantity and quality of storm run-off. In this section several aspects of the administration of the Stormwater Utility are provided.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Why do we need a Storm Water Utility Fee?
- We already pay for Storm Water on our Property Taxes, are we paying twice?
- What services does the Oro Valley Storm Water Fee provide?
- Why not include this with my water bill?
- How often will I be billed?
- Why are you sending the bills quarterly to Tucson and Metro Water customers?
- Is direct billing to my financial institute available?
- Where do I call with questions?
Question 1:
Why do we need a Storm Water Utility Fee?
Answer:
In 2002, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in response to Environmental Protection Agency mandates required all municipalities of less than 100,000 people to implement programs and practices to meet various storm water quality and quantity standards. Unfortunately the Federal Government did not provide any funding to meet these standards. This fee will address these federally directed requirements.
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Question 2:
We already pay for Storm Water on our Property Taxes, are we paying twice?
Answer:
The Storm Water on your property taxes goes to the Pima County Regional Flood Control District and is managed and distributed by them. These funds are used to eliminate and minimize flood and erosion hazards throughout the county and are primarily targeted to large flood control projects, for example, these funds paid for the levees along the CDO wash.
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Question 3:
What services does the Oro Valley Storm Water Fee provide?
Answer:
The fee will provide both visible and invisible benefits to Town of Oro Valley residents. The visible benefits will include additional street sweeping, vegetation control, culvert maintenance and minor repairs and maintenance after storms.
The less visible benefits include inspections for storm water control devices to ensure their proper operation, development of required storm water regulations and manuals, and studies and designs supporting mandated storm water activities.
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Question 4:
Why not include this with my water bill?
Answer:
This is included in your monthly water bill if you are an Oro Valley Water customer. If you are a Tucson or Metro Water customer you will receive a separate quarterly bill for $8.70 sent from the Oro Valley Water Department for the Storm Water Fee. We did contact both the Tucson and Metro Water providers to try to add this fee into their monthly billing system but they were unable to accommodate our request.
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Question 5:
How often will I be billed?
Answer:
Oro Valley Water customers receive their bill every month. Tucson and Metro Water customers receive a quarterly bill 4 times a year each.
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Question 6:
Why are you sending the bills quarterly to Tucson and Metro Water customers?
Answer:
We are sending a quarterly bill to reduce our overhead and administrative costs as much as possible to ensure we maximize the use of the funds for the tangible benefits.
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Question 7:
Is direct billing to my financial institute available?
Answer:
The Oro Valley Water Department does have an Automated Bill Payment (ACH) program available for all Storm Water customers. This service offers you an easy way to pay your storm water bill without the hassle of remembering to write a check. Your storm water bill is paid automatically each month from your checking or savings account. To enroll in the ACH program please call 520-229-5070 or 520-229-5044 and we will mail an application for this program to you.
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Question 8:
Where do I call with questions?
Answer:
The Storm Water Utility is managed in the Development & Infrastructure Services Department in the Operations Division. Any billing questions will be handled by Storm Water Utility personnel who can be reached at
520-229-5070 or 520-229-5044.
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