SEBASTIAN — Sebastian residents could pay an extra $1 each month in stormwater fees if the Sebastian City Council moves forward with a plan that would help generate what City Manager Al Minner calls a “critical” $186,000 for the fund.
A public hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 22’s City Council meeting to take public input on the proposed rate increase, which amounts to $12 annually.
Though the City Council did not vote on the proposed increase at Wednesday night’s meeting, each member voiced support for the recommendation.
Vice Mayor Don Wright reminded the council, as well as the audience, that the city has not adjusted the stormwater utility fee in more than 10 years and that the city is finally at a place where it needs to raise more funds to pay for necessities.
“We have to find a way,” Wright said, later adding, “I think asking people to pay $12 extra a year is not a financial disaster.”
Councilwoman Andrea Coy agreed, noting that prior to 2005, the onus of maintaining ditches and swales fell to the property owner, not the city, which led to drainage problems.
Once the city took over that responsibility – through the stormwater utility – the city has seen drastic improvements, according to Coy.
“There’s still a whole lot left to do,” she said.
Though the council appeared in full support of the $1 increase, Sebastian resident and business owner Damien Gilliams opposed the recommendation.
“No,” he said. “No more taxes.”
He told the council that they need to find another way to get $186,000 – not by raising the fee.
Gilliams questioned the stormwater utility fee’s existence, noting that property owners are already charged to take care of the water on their property and the fee is a second tax.
“You’re taxing us twice,” he said.
“One dollar, 50 cents, 25 cents, a penny – to bureaucracy is too much,” Gilliams added.
City Manager Minner told the council that the increase to $5 would help the city fund replacing equipment that is beyond repairing. The funds would also be used to continue stormwater maintenance programs, including placing culverts at street crossings and maintaining ditches and swales.
He told Councilman Richard Gillmor when asked that if the council were to not move forward with the $1 increase that it would take the city that much longer to install ¼-round drainage along city streets.
Also, the city would have to delay replacing the aging equipment and would have to further dip into the fund’s reserves to keep going.
“I don’t think that’s the best answer,” Minner said.
The Sebastian City Council can change the stormwater utility fee with a super-majority vote, meaning at least four of the five council members would have to approve it.
The public hearing will be held on Aug. 22 in the Sebastian City Council Chambers at Sebastian City Hall, 1225 Main St. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
