Guelph, Ont. announced November 7 that it is launching a Stormwater Funding Study to look into alternative methods for funding its stormwater management program, which is currently paid for by a combination of property taxes, development charges, and the federal gas tax.
“The intent of the stormwater funding study is to determine future program costs and public service expectation, along with a way to provide a dedicated and sustainable funding source with charges allocated in a fair and equitable manner,” said Arun Hindupur, an infrastructure engineer at the City of Guelph. “The city has just started the funding study, and we are in the process of determining a list of alternative funding tools based on research and best practices from other municipalities.”
The City is endeavouring to include residents, business and institution owners, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders in the process by including a project webpage, Stakeholder Advisory Group, and two public open houses in the study.
A City of Guelph release cited aging infrastructure, changing weather patterns, and the growth of the community as reasons for undertaking the study, which is expected to be completed by the spring of 2014.
