GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Assistant City Manager, Tim Merritt, says residents could be paying a stormwater utility bill as early as July. Merritt told a group of non-profit organizations Tuesday night he hopes to have a stormwater proposal to City Council next month.
The timing startled some non-profits. Jim Mathis, representing First Baptist Church, expressed his concern that the extra expense is not in this year's budget.
"The budget for most churches is done in the Fall of the previous year, so to be able to assemble or pay that amount in the current year would be difficult. I think we need more time to work through that."
The projected bill for First Baptist is more than 500 dollars a month. Mathis and other organization representatives wondered if non-profits should be exempt from the stormwater utility expense altogether.
"They (non-profits) are exempt from an awful lot of thinks for a reason and the reason is that they provide a service to the community that makes it a better place. I think that's a debate (exemption) that should take place."
But Assistant City Manager, Merritt, says everyone who creates demand for the system should help pay for it.
"Everybody needs to pay a fair and equitable fee and if we exempt any one portion, I think that you could not say with honesty that everybody pays their fair share."
Merritt says the City has tried to warn everyone, including non-profits, about the extra expense. He suggests those organizations concerned might look for ways to take advantage of credits for existing stormwater systems.
"Perhaps they need to start looking at credit mechanisms, storm water detention or other things that they can on their property."
The average homeowner can expect to pay between 35 and 67 dollars a year. Businesses and non-profits will pay based on a formula calculating their square footage.
The next public meeting is Tuesday, January 22nd, at 6 PM at the Gainesville Civic Center.
Wednesday
January 22nd, 2025
3:46PM
