Residents who have been paying higher than normal costs on their ENWIN bills after the city split wastewater and stormwater charges could be seeing a credit soon.
The city's new Stormwater Financing Plan was implemented on January 1. The goal of the plan was to save most property owners money by shifting stormwater management to properties with large parking lots. Instead, as many as 37,000 residents are paying more.
"The committment that we made is that this is going to be a fair plan. Fair that the residents in the city are going to see a decrease in their bill as a result of this change of adding storm water management but that places like Home Depot and Costco that have large parking lots who contribute a lot of storm water during rain events actually have to pay their fair share," said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
The city also pledges to offer cemeteries, churches and other designated places of worship a reduction to the annual charge.
A report on the adjustments to the program will be presented at a Windsor City Council's meeting on April 28, 2025. A credit will be issued later in the year.
The credit could result in a loss of anticipated revenue for the city.
"We collect the stormwater fees and then we assign the money to projects like the St. Rose Pump Station being an example. We are going to continue to deliver on those important projects. Internally we may have to dial back the speed at which we do some of the other changes that council approved in the budget," said Dilkens.
The $22 million St. Rose Pumping Station project will continue as scheduled. It's slated for completion by fall 2026. Once connected it will improve flood resiliency for 1,100 residents.
The full impact of the stormwater fee credit will be outlined in the report going to council.