School Districts Could Save Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars In Stormwater Fees
EL PASO, Texas – The four school districts in the El Paso area are getting a break on the stormwater utility fee.
During a special meeting Wednesday, the Public Service Board authorized El Paso Water Utilities to waive all stormwater fees for the school districts from March through August of 2008.
From September 2008 through February 2009, the districts, which include El Paso, Ysleta, Socorro and Canutillo districts, will pay 25% of the non-residential fee. Then in March and 2009, the permanent stormwater fee for the districts would be 10% of the non-residential fee. Any money already collected will be credited toward future bills.
If the districts agree, the changes would go into effect on September 1.
The fee, which was developed after the floods of 2006 to protect the city from future damage, was costing the districts tens of thousands of dollars each month.
Beginning Sept. 1, stormwater fees for the four districts would total $18,819 per month. This would be reduced to $7,528 in March 2009, a combined savings of $11,291 per month. The Board’s proposal to waive the stormwater fees billed prior to Sept. 1 would save the districts an additional $414,903.
In authorizing the new rate structure, the Board said they were recognizing that the school districts’ primary goal is to educate students; but board members also said they remain committed to keeping the district’s properties, students, faculty and staff safe from stormwater runoff.
“We listened to (the districts,)” said El Paso Water Utilities Chief Executive Officer Ed Archuleta. “But we know and they know we still have to do the work.”
El Paso Mayor and Public Service Board member John Cook added, “When we build flood control systems above school, we prevent the school from flooding. So, it’s only fair that(the districts)pay a portion.”
