The Odessa City Council passed a stormwater rate increase in a 3-2 vote on Tuesday night. Council members decided on a one year plan, so for the next 12 months residents and commercial property owners will work under new rates.
The rate increase affects everyone except people that own a home under 1,000 square feet. Their rate will stay exactly the same. As for larger properties, a slight increase of about two dollars will be required.
Commercial property more than 500,000 square feet would require a fee of anywhere between $85-$100.
The stormwater program is an unfunded, city mandate by the TCEQ.
“The more water you runoff of your property, the higher your rate would be,” Development Services Manager Vanessa Shrauner said.
A second reading of the ordinance will be heard in the next city council meeting on Tuesday, July 12th. From that point, the stormwater rates will increase in 30 days.
(Information from YourBasin.com)
