A First in the State Stormwater Utility

Stormwater utilities provide a steady funding source that allows municipalities to plan, manage, and support stormwater systems. The City of South Burlington was the first municipality in the State of Vermont to form a stormwater utility. This utility allows the City to maintain and upgrade its stormwater system, as well as implement new effective stormwater treatment measures designed to improve water quality and control water quantity. Before the utility was established, the City spent only $177,000 per year on its stormwater program. The storm sewer system had a significant maintenance backlog and much about the system was unknown. South Burlington had six surface waters on the State's list of impaired waterways, and stormwater runoff is the main culprit. The South Burlington Utility Feasibility Project started in April 2003 and two years later the first bills were mailed. Now, the South Burlington Stormwater Utility generates approximately $1 million in revenue per year. This paper will outline how the City established a stormwater utility that provides a stable and adequate source of revenue for the City to investigate, inventory, plan, operate, maintain, repair and construct their stormwater system.