HomeMy Public PortalAboutWhy_A_Stormwater_Capital_Rate_11_18
Although MSD is not a flood plain manager and does not own creeks and streams, customers call MSD asking
for help with flooding and erosion because they have nowhere else to turn. MSD believes it is in the best
position to help, and has been developing a funding solution that would allow it to provide these much-needed
comprehensive stormwater services to our community. The proposed Stormwater Capital Rate is an
impervious surface rate that would fund MSD’s Stormwater Capital Improvement Program. As flooding and
erosion are directly impacted by the volume of stormwater runoff created by impervious surfaces which
cannot absorb water, each customer would pay based upon the amount of impervious area on their property.
All public and private property within MSD’s service area, including properties owned by governmental or nonprofit
entities and those not receiving MSD sanitary sewer services, would be subject to the Stormwater Capital Rate, if
approved. One exception is for those living in levee districts, as levee districts already provide stormwater services for
their residents. All creeks and streams would remain privately owned; local municipalities retain floodplain management
responsibilities.
100 The percent of impervious surfaces that cause stormwater runoff. Concrete, blacktop, and the
footprint of a house are examples of impervious surfaces, meaning they do not absorb water. If you have
surfaces like these on your property (most people do!), you contribute to runoff that can lead to flooding
and erosion.
500 The approximate number of currently-known flooding and erosion issues in the MSD service area.
These are private property issues caused by stormwater runoff, beyond the technical and financial
capabilities of most homeowners to address.
$27 The total dollars the average homeowner would pay each year for the impervious surfaces on
their property with the Stormwater Capital Rate. Most commonly, $2.25 (less than the cost of a cup of
coffee!) would be added to customers’ monthly MSD sewer bill.
$30,000,000 The dollar amount the Stormwater Capital Rate would generate each year to
fund MSD’s Stormwater Capital Improvement Program. These funds would allow MSD to provide
comprehensive stormwater services that would include: Property buyouts, rainscaping, natural creek
bank stabilization, and stormwater drainage systems installation.
In 2008, MSD began providing comprehensive stormwater services
through the enactment of an impervious area fee. In 2010, the fee
was declared unconstitutional by the St. Louis County Circuit Court
and comprehensive stormwater services were stopped. The Circuit
Court decision was later affirmed by the Missouri Court of Appeals in
2012 and the Missouri Supreme Court in 2013. Recognizing legal
challenges created by the Supreme Court ruling, MSD continued
efforts to provide comprehensive stormwater services for its
customers through a strategic, two-step approach.
A HELPFUL HISTORY
WHY A STORMWATER CAPITAL RATE?
BY THE NUMBERS
MORE ON BACK
Updated Nov. 2018
WHO WOULD BE IMPACTED?
$2.50
WHO ?
All public and private property within MSD’s service area, including properties owned by governmen tal
or nonprofit entities and those not receiving MSD sanitary sewer services, would be subject to the
Stormwater Capital Rate, if approved. Levee districts currently in contractual agreements with MSD
would be exempt, as these districts already provide stormwater services for their residents. All creeks
and streams would remain privately owned; local municipalities would retain floodplain management
responsibilities. The Stormwater Capital Improvement Program is not a solution for large-scale flood
events that our area has historically seen from major rivers, such as the recent flooding of the
Meramec River in 2015 and 2017.
The Rate Commission provided their recommendation to MSD’s Board of Trustees in September 2018,
and it was accepted. Prior to providing their recommendation, they hosted a series of public hearings to
obtain public feedback about the Stormwater Capital Rate and to review the funding proposal. To assist
with their review, the Rate Commission had rate experts, legal counsel, and other technical experts
working at their direction.
In November 2018, the Trustees approved an ordinance allowing St. Louis city and St. Louis county voters to
consider the Stormwater Capital Rate in April 2019. If approved by voters with a simple majority (51 percent), the
Stormwater Capital Rate would fund projects to address erosion and local/regional flooding.
For more information on the Stormwater Capital Rate Proposal, the
Rate Commission, and to see public hearing/meeting schedule as
announced, please visit www.STLMSD.com/ratecommission
METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT (MSD) 2350 MARKET STREET ST. LOUIS, MO 63103 (314) 768-6260
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
“By working
together,
MSD can help.”
- MSD Executive Director,
Brian Hoelscher
A TWO-STEP APPROACH
STEP 1: PROPOSITION S (2016)
In April 2016, voters approved MSD’s Proposition S, which equalized operations and
maintenance services for the public stormwater sewer system. This allowed MSD to
correct stormwater sewer problems throughout its service area. However, flooding and
erosion issues caused by stormwater runoff remain unfunded and unaddressed - they
are private property issues.
STEP 2: STORMWATER CAPITAL RATE (2018)
The Stormwater Capital Rate was proposed to MSD’s independent Rate Commission on
February 26, 2018. This impervious surface charge would fund MSD’s Stormwater Capital
Improvement Program, which would enable MSD to address localized flooding and
erosion issues that many property owners are unable resolve on their own.
STLMSD.com ProjectClearstl.org @YourMSD
Updated Nov. 2018