The City Council approved in a 6-3 vote Tuesday night slashing the water quality, or stormwater, budget by more than $10 million and giving a break to those who are nonresidential users.
"I was a bit surprised," said Council Chairman Jack Benson afterward. "I didn't know they would come down that much."
PDF: Water quality memorandum
The new proposed rate would stay the same for Chattanooga residences at $115.20 a year, or $9.60 a month. The council cut the nonresidential rate from $9.60 a month per equivalent residential unit to $6.15 a month. A city administration proposal three weeks ago called for a $6.50 per-month rate, but council members found an additional savings of more than $300,000 because the city did not hire an additional nine employees for the program over a nine-month period.
Voting against the measure were Councilwoman Pam Ladd, Councilman Manny Rico and Councilwoman Deborah Scott.
The council also approved a credit that could take off a maximum of 65 percent off the stormwater bill.
The measure effectively would slash the budget from $21.5 million this year to $11.7 million.
The vote was on first reading, though, and the proposal will have to come back up again for a second reading before it becomes law. City Attorney Mike McMahan told council members that any change in a water quality ordinance must be advertised 30 days in advance, so the council will not vote again on the measure for five weeks.
Ms. Ladd said during the council's legal and legislative committee meeting that she supported a budget closer to the city administration's original proposal of a $6.50-per-month rate for nonresidential users because of fears it may not be enough to satisfy federal and state regulators.
"My concern is fixing a rate too small that doesn't do the job we need it to do and coming back next year and fixing it," Ms. Ladd said.
WHAT'S NEXTBecause any change in the water quality fees ordinance must be advertised 30 days in advance, the City Council next will vote on the measure at its regularly scheduled business meeting on April 20.BY THE NUMBERS* 65: Maximum credit percentage off the water quality bill the City Council approved* $9.60: Charge per month residents will pay, or $115.20 annually*$6.15: Per-month charge on equivalent residential units that nonresidential users will pay on water quality billSource: Chattanooga
The water quality, or stormwater, fee has been debated heavily for months since the council approved hiking the rate in October from $24 or $36 a year for residences up to $115.20 a year. Businesses, churches and institutions can pay even more because they can qualify as multiple residences.
An independent committee established by the council to look at water quality fees presented a $10 million budget almost a month ago with a credit system that could take a maximum of 75 percent off the bill.
The city administration countered with a $12 million budget and a maximum 50 percent credit.
Mayor Ron Littlefield said Tuesday that he recommended his proposal. But during the council's legal and legislative meeting, he also acknowledged the city could give some more on the credits.
"I've seen the question on how you can suddenly cut your budget back," Mr. Littlefield said. "We've cut it back by deferring a lot of projects."
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