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Stormwater Fee

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Utility bills (comprised of Sewer Rent and Stormwater Fee) are mailed April 1st to all property owners. Payment is due by May 31st.

The revenue from the stormwater fee will fund:

Stormwater Capital Projects
Proactive maintenance of public stormwater infrastructure.
Watershed studies to identify the most impactful projects.
Increased inspections of stormwater management facilities.
Education on stormwater management issues and action that local residents and business can take to address Radnor's stormwater challenges.

The Board of Commissioners (BOC) will oversee stormwater expenditures. The Commissioners have also created a Stormwater Management Advisory Committee (SWMAC) to assist Staff and the BOC in their efforts to maintain an effective and efficient stormwater program.

Stormwater Program and Fee Background

Calculating Your Bill

Based on the program of services and approved level of funding, ratepayers will pay $29 per billing unit annually.

Single Family Residential (SFR) Properties

Single Family Residential (SFR) properties are assigned to 1 of 4 tiers based upon lot size. Fees will be assessed as shown in the table below.

Tier (Lot Square Footage)	Billing Units	Annual Fee
0 to 7,000	1	$29
7,000 to 20,000	2	$58
20,000 to 43,560	3	$87
> 43,560	4	$116

Single Family Residential (SFR) Example
A developed 1/2-acre residential lot (21,780 square feet) would be assigned to Tier 3, assessed 3 BUs and charged $87 annually.

Other Developed Properties (ODP)

Other Developed Properties (ODP), which includes commercial, institutional, multi-family (e.g. apartments) and all other property types, will be billed for stormwater at a rate of 1 BU per 1,500 square feet of impervious area.

ODP Example
A developed property with 15,000 square feet of impervious area would be assessed 10 BUs (15,000 square feet per 1,500 square feet = 10 BUs) and charged $290 annually.

Program Outreach to Property Owners

What We've Done:

Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meetings - November 2012 through April 2013
Public Presentations at BOC Meetings in December 2012 and June, July, August, September, and October 2013
League of Women Voters Public Outreach Forums in August and September 2013
Township Newsletter Articles in Fall 2012, Winter 2012, Fall 2013
Township-wide Information Mailers in August and November 2013
Delco Times coverage in August 2013
Main Line Times article in September 2013
Initial Stormwater Bill Insert
Stormwater Management
Township's YouTube Channel

On October 14, 2013, Radnor Township Board of Commissioners approved Ordinance No. 2013-15 adopting a new stormwater fee to begin to address these community issues and provide a dedicated funding mechanism. The Township sent a mailer out November 1st to all property owners, giving an estimation of their bill.

FAQs

Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

Will the fee change in the future?
The current fee is based upon a preliminary set of stormwater needs and priorities and these will change over time. The fee was set to remain constant for the initial 5 years. However, this may need to be adjusted by the Board of Commissioners (BOC) in the future.
How is a fee different from a property tax?
Fees can only be spent on the dedicated program of services for which they are collected. Property taxes may be used for any and all general expenses of local government, such as police, zoning, parks and recreation, etc. Property taxes do not apply to tax-exempt properties.
Who is subject to the fee?
All developed properties in Radnor Township, including tax-exempt properties are subject to the fee.
Why is the fee based on impervious area?
Like many communities, Radnor determined that the impervious surface of a property is a more equitable way to distribute the costs of public stormwater services as it provides a relative measurement of a property's runoff.
Is there a way to reduce my fee?
Because the impervious surfaces on properties classified as ODP (for stormwater billing purposes) have been measured, property owners can reduce their stormwater fee by removing impervious surfaces on their property. The Township has also committed to adopt a credit program by mid-2014. Credits will likely be granted for activities that help the Township avoid stormwater program costs funded by the fee. Additional information will be provided at future BOC meetings and on the Township website.
What if my bill is incorrect?
An appeals process will be implemented prior to January 2014 to handle any potential errors in the billing process. Once you receive your bill, you will be able to submit an appeal application to address the error. Additional information may be required or requested by the township depending on the nature of the appeal.View the Stormwater Appeal Packet.