Savannah Standard

The city of Savannah is set to hold a series of community meetings to discuss the proposed Stormwater Utility. These sessions, scheduled from April 21 to April 30, will give residents the chance to learn about the plan, ask questions, and provide feedback. Each meeting begins at 6 p.m. in various Aldermanic Districts.

Savannah confronts challenges related to its stormwater drainage system, including aging infrastructure and the impact of more intense storms due to climate change. Historically, the city has used a range of funding sources to address these issues, including federal grants, Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds, and general fund appropriations. Now, officials are considering a dedicated funding mechanism in the form of a new utility to manage future stormwater challenges.

The Stormwater Utility is designed to fund services within the Stormwater Management Program, emphasizing drainage system maintenance, flood reduction, water quality management, and regulatory compliance. It aims to shift reliance away from general fund appropriations by implementing a user fee structure similar to existing city utilities.

Under this system, properties with pervious surfaces like lawns would incur lower fees due to their capacity to absorb runoff, whereas properties with impervious surfaces would face higher fees due to their greater runoff contribution.

In May 2024, Savannah initiated a study to assess current service levels and how they would be affected by the utility. The City Council awarded a $300,000 contract to Stantec Consulting Services to conduct this study in August 2024.

Savannah is not alone in considering a Stormwater Utility. Over the last two decades, 78 cities and counties in Georgia have implemented similar utilities. In the broader region, Florida and South Carolina also have established numerous stormwater utilities. The concept has a long history in Georgia, with Griffin implementing it first in 1998.

For locations and times of the upcoming meetings, residents can attend in District 3 at the Pennsylvania Avenue Resource Center on April 21, District 6 at the Windsor Forest Community Center on April 22, District 2 at the Delaware Community Center on April 23, District 5 at the Liberty City Community Center on April 24, District 1 at the Coastal Georgia Center on April 28, and District 4 at Jenkins High School on April 30.

For further details, consult the city's resources regarding the Stormwater Utility proposal.