Another part of Tulsans' utility bills may go up this year.
City councilors are considering stormwater drainage rate increases of 9 percent. The fee applies to every parcel of developed land in the city.
Increases will likely continue for several years.
"The plan is to get this in place, and right now, I believe, the forecast is not this next year, but in two years, going to about 3 percent increases and not trying to be in the 9 and 8 range but try to get it more manageable," said Engineering Services Director Paul Zachary.
The increase translates to an additional $0.53 a month. Zachary said there’s a $77 million backlog of capital improvements for Tulsa’s stormwater system. Like water and sewer, stormwater projects can no longer use sales tax revenue or bond money.
An advisory board proposed the 9 percent increase in April, so the increase wasn't influenced by Tulsa's second-wettest May on record.
"I think if we had the rain probably in January or February and had all these issues, you may actually have seen more than that," Zachary said.
Progress on a backlog of capital projects will help Tulsa keep pace in a community rating system, which earns a 40 percent discount for people buying flood insurance.
