Buffalo Grove might levy new stormwater fee

Buffalo Grove property owners soon could be paying an extra fee to help the village maintain and improve its stormwater system.

Monday night, the village board is expected to consider a new stormwater utility fee for homes as well as commercial properties.

The initial fee will be determined based upon the total square footage of all parcels with impervious surfaces, as well as the funds required to maintain and update the stormwater system, according to village documents. Vacant lots will not be charged a fee.

The cost for a single-family home would be about $5.08 per month, according to the village. The average multifamily cost would be $2.73 a month per unit. Commercial and industrial properties would vary significantly based on size, but the fee for the Town Center parcel, for example, would be $427.37 per month.

Public Works Director Mike Reynolds said the fee would help fund needed maintenance for the village's 189 miles of storm sewer pipes, 11 miles of streams, 39 stormwater detention facilities and approximately 3,000 drainage structures, including the metal grates along streets. That costs about $480,000 a year, officials say.

The fee would generate about $1.2 million annually, which would cover not only maintenance costs, but also generate about $700,000 a year to fund improvements.

Reynolds said the stormwater system generally is in good condition, but some older parts may be facing failure.

"(The fee) is intended to provide a funding source so we can zero in on some of these stormwater issues," he said.

The proposed fee in Buffalo Grove falls in the middle of the range among similar fees imposed in other communities, Reynolds said.

"It's a fairly manageable fee," he added.

Billing likely would take place on the water bill for water customers. For others, there would be direct billing, officials say.