InfrastructureMaryland counties debate funding stormwater drainage management

A new tax aimed at property owners could finance the first set of improvements of the drainage works in Salisbury, Maryland since the original system was laid almost a century ago.

City leaders have been arguing since 2009 over dedicating a source of funding to stormwater management, when an environmental panel recommended it. In the past, funding for projects like this has been hard to find as other priorities were deemed more important. 

The Delmarvanow reports that the State of Maryland is asking local governments to be a part of a $14.8 billion stormwater project to be completed by 2025 in order to reduce the flow of damaging nutrients into Chesapeake Bay. Wicomico County officials, along with a consultant’s report, estimated Salisbury’s share at more than $200 million

Some counties, however, are not happy about the project.

At least seven counties in the state have formed a coalition to block the mandate, and other counties in the state are considering joining the fight. 

Mayor Jim Ireton feels that Salisbury should not fight the plan, but instead should find a way to maintain its financial stability while improving the environment.

“I support doing our part to reduce the effects of stormwater,” Ireton said in an e-mailed statement. “Green infrastructure has been a mainstay of the downtown redevelopment plan and is a constant in public works when annexations begin their process of approval.”`  

Ireton’s opponent in April’s mayoral election has taken advantage of the situation, as he opposed the utility fee.

“By calling it a ‘fee’ for a ‘utility’ it can be imposed (like Maryland’s infamous ‘flush tax’) without raising the tax rate,” retired businessman Joe Albero wrote. “The plan suggests that he is looking to raise about $19 million per year with this scam —  so that the hit would be substantial.”

Estimates of the utility’s financial footprint have been public since late last year, as they were included in a City Council agenda packet. The Ireton administration’s proposed five-year package has a price tag of $76.6 million.

Ireton said he is confident that the final cost of the project will be much lower than the original estimate. In Frederick County, an original estimate of $2.3 billion over twelve years was reduced to $112 million over five years.

The plan may end up costing less money, but for now the plan only seems to be upsetting people. According to Public Works Director Teresa Gardner, the plan is light on specifics.

Its exact goals and costs are “such a moving target,” Gardner told the Delmarvanow. “We felt we needed to put a placeholder in here. We just all laughed in shock as we put the $18 or $19 million down there and realized that even if you magically gave me $19 million next year, I wouldn’t know what I would do because we’re not getting any clear direction at this time on what are successful (pollution-cutting) measures.”

According to Ireton, the utility most likely will not cover the cost for the upgrades. Some projects may cost virtually nothing, while others may require state and federal grant money. 

The University Of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center is expected to deliver a city-commissioned study in April, outlining the creation of a stormwater utility, but Ireton said that he does not know how much it will cost until the study is done.