The City of Salem provides its residents with a variety of stormwater services including drainage system maintenance, flooding response, capital improvements, and street sweeping. Historically, these stormwater-related costs have been recovered through wastewater (sewer) rates, which comprise a water consumption component and a fixed user charge. Recently, City staff and the City's Water/Wastewater/Stormwater Task Force proposed a more equitable way of funding stormwater needs to address the questions:

"What does water consumption have to do with managing stormwater runoff?"

and

"Why should water consumption be the basis for charging customers for stormwater services?"

Based on the discussions of the City's Water/Wastewater/Stormwater Task Force, the proposed stormwater utility is recommended to:

• Separate the stormwater program costs from the wastewater rates and into its own utility.
• Base the stormwater program costs on impervious area, not water consumption.
• Provide equity in the City's utility rates.

The stormwater utility is not a new fee, but it is a more equitable way of recovering the costs for stormwater services already provided by the City.

Read more about the proposed stormwater utility in the Fact Sheet, Frequently Asked Questions, and other materials in the Additional Information section.

For more information, contact Mike Gotterba, Public Information Officer, at 503-588-6211.

To schedule a presentation for your group, contact Stephanie Amerino, Public Works Office Assistant, at 503-588-6211.