This document summarizes Takoma Park, Maryland's stormwater utility fee program. It discusses how the fee was established in 1996 to provide sustainable funding for stormwater management. Properties are billed based on the amount of impervious surface, with single family homes paying a standard rate and other properties paying based on actual impervious area. In fiscal year 2012, the utility fee generated $361,000 with single family and other developed properties contributing 46% and 54% respectively. The document provides examples of fees paid and identifies opportunities to improve the program through incentives and updated impervious analysis.

1. Takoma Park, Maryland's
Stormwater Utility Fee
One small jurisdiction's experience with funding
stormwater management programs with a utility fee,
imposed on all property owners,
based on amount of impervious surface.

2. Takoma Park, Maryland
Located just outside the District of Columbia, Takoma Park is
approximately 2 square miles with a population of 17,000.
residential
92% developed
commercial
8
8 Public/Institutional
13
roadways
5
park land
6
60
undeveloped

3. A Brief History of the Stormwater System
The stormwater system in Takoma Park was
owned by the regional water and sewer authority
until the late 1980's. Once the State ruled they
could no longer operate the system, the City took
it over.
The City had the system mapped and inspected to
determine the condition and general location of the
structures. The age of the system ranged from
structures built in the 1920's made of hand stacked
stone and slate tops culverts, to brick and cinder-
block structures with pipes ranging from clay,
corrugated metal to reinforced concrete.
Once the City took over the system, the primary activity was maintenance and cleaning.
About 40% to 60% of the budget for those activities came from the general tax fund and
the remainder was appropriated from previous budget year’s surplus. The Council
determined this was not a sustainable practice, so began exploring the options and
established the Stormwater Utility Fee in 1996.

4. Why A Utility Fee?
A dependable source of funding, less impacted by
economic changes reflected in tax rates,
A fair and equitable way of generating revenue,
Enables all property owners to contribute - including
tax exempt

5. Stormwater Utility Fee
Rate Structure
Single family properties are all billed the same amount. The
amount is based on the median impervious area of 1.228 sq
ft, also called the ERU - equivalent residential unit.
Other developed properties are billed based on the actual square
footage of impervious area on the property, divided by the ERU
and multiplied by the base rate.
The original base rate was $24, the current rate is $48. We are
recommending an increase to $55 in the next budget.
The original assessment of property types was determined using
State Tax database records. The amount of impervious area was
calculated using digital maps with planimetric information
gathered from aerial photographs showing building and
pavement edges.

6. Property Types In Takoma Park
 86% - Single Family Residential
14% - Other Developed
Multi-family - 5%
Commercial - 4%
Tax Exempt Properties - 5%
Percentage Of Impervious Area By Type
37% - Single Family (1,228 sq ft)
60% - Other Developed Property

7. Land Use Map
The map to the right shows a
portion of the City and the
relative land cover including
pervious and impervious
surfaces, structures and roads.
The single family residential
areas tend to have greater tree
cover, while the
schools, commercial and
institutional areas have less.
In general the amount of
impervious area in the residential
portion of the City is less than the
other developed areas.

8. Stormwater Management Expenses
FY 1990 FY 2012
 $200,000 annual budget $454,500 annual budget
 $10,000 engineering design $20,000 engineering design
 $60,000 capital costs $167,000 capital costs
 $130,000 for maintenance & $187,500 maintenance & services *
services
$80,000 personnel **
* Maintenance and services now includes video inspection of the system, pipe
cleaning, repair of existing structures and dry weather outfall testing.
** Personnel includes 1/2 time of an engineer and 1/4 time of an Administrative
position to process permits.

9. Who Pays What ?
There are 3,885 property owners billed each year.
3,443 are single family properties and
443 are other developed properties.
In FY 12, the Utility Fee generated $361,000.
Single Family Properties represent 89% of the properties billed, and
pay $165,000 - or 46% of the total. When the fee was implemented, 80%
of the single family property owners paid less with the Utility Fee then
they did under the ad valorem tax.
Other Developed Properties represent 11% of the properties billed, and
pay $196,000 - or 54% of the total.
The City mails a Stormwater Utility Bill annually to each property owner.

10. Some Examples of Payments
All single family properties pay the same amount - $48
The largest payer, the Washington Adventist
University, pays $12,500.
The second largest payer, the Washington Adventist
Hospital, pays $10,500.
There are 15 commercial properties paying between
$2,000 and 6,000.

11. Key Components:
Promote accomplishments - need to regularly remind
property owners what is being done with the payments.
Delinquency - must pursue non-payment
Future Challenges:
 No Fee Reduction Policy - currently no process for reducing the rate for
a property that has installed stormwater controls onsite.
 No Incentive Program - there is no program to encourage property
owners to manage their stormwater onsite, various options include
rebates for certain installations (rain gardens, down spout disconnects,
tree planting, etc)
 Update Impervious Analysis - with improved GIS and other technology,
the review of property features should be updated.

12. For additional information or
questions, please contact:
Daryl Braithwaite
Public Works Director
City of Takoma Park
301-891-7615
darylb@takomagov.org
www.takomaparkmd.gov