Jefferson City stormwater tax likely on August ballot

Heavy rains in August 2016 caused flash flooding in Mid-Missouri, which damaged Washington Park in Jefferson City and area homes, and prompted residents to seek stormwater drainage solutions.
Heavy rains in August 2016 caused flash flooding in Mid-Missouri, which damaged Washington Park in Jefferson City and area homes, and prompted residents to seek stormwater drainage solutions.

For a new stormwater utility tax to appear on the August ballot in Jefferson City, a bill would have to be introduced in May and approved by the City Council, members of the city's Public Works and Planning Committee were told at Thursday's meeting.

Jefferson City leaders announced in January that voters could expect a public vote in August on a potential $36 million measure to help pay for stormwater improvements.

City leaders decided it would be unwise to offer the tax plan on the April 4 ballot, which features a $130 million Jefferson City Public Schools proposal to build a second high school.

The stormwater problem has been there for decades, and how it should be handled has been debated for just as long.

A decade ago, a committee worked to come up with a master plan but could not reach a consensus, mainly due to the cost of the repairs.

However, stormwater problems resurfaced after more than 30 homes and buildings in the Capital City were damaged by flash flooding in August and September.

A stormwater utility would create a dedicated source of money to specifically fund stormwater services, and it could not be diverted for other uses, Public Works Director Matt Morasch explained Thursday. The fund would pay for replacement of neighborhood stormwater collection systems, flood resiliency projects, regional detention areas, and bridge maintenance and replacement.

Currently, the only funding for stormwater infrastructure comes from a portion of the city's capital improvement sales tax.

Morasch said the funding from the sales tax provides only $360,000 a year, when the city needs about $2 million annually for replacements and renovations to pipes and inlets.

"We have a minimal service level when it comes to stormwater," Morasch told the committee. "We don't have a fee or utility at this point to fund those infrastructures. If you are wanting to take care of stormwater, well, a utility is probably the way to go."

Morasch said in the master plan they looked at how much of a fee they would need to charge to raise a certain amount each year. The average was $3.50 a month, under a draft proposal distributed at Thursday's meeting. This would be the rate for single-family homes and duplexes. Vacant parcels of less than 2 acres would be $2 per month, and vacant parcels of greater than 2 acres $1 per acre per month.

A lot of the city's stormwater infrastructure is 25-50 years old and is past its useful service life, Morasch said.

City officials estimate there is $15 million worth of stormwater repair based solely on residents' reports, and overall needs probably total $30 million. There's $120 million worth of infrastructure in the city.

Several candidates running for City Council in the April 4 election expressed support for the utility fee at a forum hosted by the News Tribune this week.