Development of a Multi-Jurisdictional Stormwater Utlity in Clayton County

Abstract

Many local governments are implementing stormwater utilities (SWUs) to fund enhanced stormwater management and maintenance programs in Georgia as a result of the increased regulatory focus on the impacts of stormwater runoff and increasing costs for repair and replacement of aging infrastructure. The local governments in Clayton County, including the County and the Cities of Forest Park, Jonesboro, Lake City, Lovejoy, Morrow, and Riverdale, plus the Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) have agreed to develop a single SWU to fund and implement a county-wide stormwater management program. In this unique partnership, CCWA will take on the responsibility for implementing the utility, including collection of revenues and implementation of stormwater-related services within each of the jurisdictions just as they currently provide water and sewer services. CCWA will become the one point of contact for all water related services county-wide and will charge for all water, wastewater, and stormwater services on one bill. A technical coordination committee (TCC), consisting of the public works directors from each of the jurisdictions, helped to facilitate this rare multilateral agreement. In addition, a diverse citizens advisory committee (CAC) was consulted to finalize the proposed stormwater services, potential fees, and implementation approach. With the assistance of these two advisory groups, the County and City officials reached a consensus on a consolidated SWU. Currently, CCWA is developing the billing database using a combination of new planimetric data (on impervious surfaces), the County tax assessor’s data, and CCWA’s billing system. Reconciliation of the County tax data and CCWA’s billing database has proved to be a challenge, but full implementation of the new county-wide utility is expected in 2007.