Is another rainwater GR tax coming?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A survey by a local environmental group says Grand Rapids residents would pay for the rain that falls on their property in an effort to reign in the related costs stormwater brings to the city's sewer system.

The West Michigan Environmental Action Council is suggesting either a property-based fee, or a citywide millage to cover future costs of so-called storm water runoff.

When rain and other forms of moisture run off areas like parking lots, streets, driveways, roofs and yards they bring with them contaminates that pollute local waterways.

Some of the runoff also ends up in the sanitary sewer systems, adding to the volumes of water that need to be treated at the city's waste water treatment facility.

The cost of treating water continues to grow, while city revenues continue to decline. The state is requiring communities to meet new wastewater treatment regulations by 2016.

In their report to the commission, WMEAC is suggesting two potential revenue sources they claim will support stormwater retention efforts and make the city more environmentally friendly.

One idea is to create a storm water utility, a fee-for-service approach that would charge property owners for for the amount of runoff they create, and offer incentives when property owners create more sustainable ways of dealing with the runoff.

The second option would create a city-wide millage. Money generated by the millage would go directly to storm water mitigation.

Eight other communities in Michigan, including Detroit, Lansing and Ann Arbor have stormwater utilities. Grand Rapids leaders adopted a utility in 1993, but it was overturned by way of a voter referendum later that year.

The new report says the average monthly cost to a property owner ranges from $2 to maintain the current system to $8 for what WMEAC calls the ideal service.

WMEAC believes residents are willing to pay those costs.

The organization surveyed more than 700 homes in Grand Rapids. Of those homeowners who responded, 82% say they are willing to pay more for stormwater management investments that would improve water quality in the Grand River and Lake Michigan.

Another 16% said no to the question, while 1% had no response.

First Ward City Commissioner Walt Gutowski questioned WMEAC's approach to the problem.

"Clearly the way the state is dealing with this is not efficient," Gutowski said. "The state should be dealing with this on a regional basis, and they're not."

The WMEAC study is just the first step on coming up with a plan to deal with stormwater management.

City commsioners will have the final say on the solution and how to pay for it.

But WMEAC's Rachel Hood said there may not be time to make those collaborations work when the new state regulations kick in in 2016.