Surface and Stormwater Management Program Fees

2007 Rate Changes and Establishment of a Fund for
Asset Replacement

2007   $57.30  per unit
2008   $62.30  per unit
2009   $67.30  per unit
2010   $69.80  per unit

A portion of this fee ($2.30 per unit) will be placed in a special fund to be used only for replacement of County owned stormwater facilities located outside County road rights-of-way.

The rate adjustment allows the program to continue to provide the current level of service while adding long term funding for replacement of storm water facilities that have reached the end of their service life.  By dedicating a portion of the fee to replacement costs for County owned stormwater facilities the County avoids taking on debt and its associated cost when replacing worn out components of the storm water system. Having the fund allows for replacing assets before they fail thus avoiding localized flooding, road surface damage, and private property damage that typically occurs when drainage systems fail.

History of Fee Schedule

1994 - Comprehensive Stormwater Management Program approved by Board in September.  Rate set to fund this program was $45.00 per billing unit (beginning January 1, 1995)

1999 - (December) US Environmental Protection Agency establishes the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) phase II stormwater permit rule requiring Cities and Counties to conduct actions in six specific areas related to stormwater management:

1. Public Education and Outreach

2. Public Participation and Involvement

3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

4. Construction Runoff Control

5. Post Construction Runoff Control

6. Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

2003 - (March)  Kitsap County applies for NPDES permit as required by federal rule.

2004 - The Board of Commissioners conducts public hearings regarding potential program expansion and rate adjustments.  The Board approves 50% rate credits for commercial sites that reuse rainwater, infiltrate all runoff or discharge directly to Puget Sound after appropriate water quality treatment.   The Board passes fee increase to $47.50 per unit in 2005 and $50.00 per unit in 2006 and request a performance audit to review:

1. Review program for consistency with policy direction

2. Compare Kitsap Stormwater management fees and expenses with other like stormwater utilities

3. Determine required versus discretionary programs

4. Obtain stakeholder input

5. Review Outsourcing and Privatization opportunities

6. Perform a fiscal review

7. Review Performance Measures

Nov 2005,  Financial Consulting Services Group completes performance audit.  Observations and recommendations include:

1. Provide Board with more detailed information on program scope of work during budget process

2. Continue to forecast expenses and fee revenue on a 6 year scale

3. Kitsap has a low fee compared to much of Western Washington

4. The Capital construction processes for Kitsap’s program has an effective bidding process, reliable engineering estimates, few significant changes orders, and on time and on budget construction.

5. Recommends the Board continue to review program levels of service for mandated and discretionary programs

6. Recommends establishing an asset replacement funding program and conduct a reconciliation of the engineering inventory of assets versus the accounting inventory of assets.

7. Provided a framework for evaluating programs for potential privatization

8. Review historical expense and workload trends to predict program cost increases that may exceed the rate of inflation and program those rates into the 6 year budget projection. Adjust service levels or rates as necessary.

9. Reduce number or performance measures and consolidate gathered information to show performance criteria for effectiveness and efficiency.

Final Surface & Stormwater Program Performance Audit

2006 - The County has implemented many of the proposed changes and recalculated the 6 year financial projection based on the audit recommendations. The approved rate adjustment allows the program to continue to operate at the present level of service, while continuing to take on additional maintenance responsibilities for roads and plats as they are developed.  The new rate provides for the establishment of an asset replacement fund to replace stormwater facilities at the end of their service life.

Kitsap County Public Works
Surface and Stormwater Management Program
(360) 337-5777 or (800) 825-4940
openline@co.kitsap.wa.us