Stormwater Management Funding Assessment

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Consultation has concluded

Project Image: Stormwater Management Funding Assessment

Stormwater Management:
Stormwater management is also a form of wastewater treatment, whereby rain water and snowmelt runs off across dirty roads and properties, makes its way through the storm sewer system and into a stormwater pond to settle out contaminants before being released to our creeks and drinking water source, Lake Ontario.

Background Information:
In May 2022, Cobourg Council passed a motion to introduce a dedicated funding source for residential stormwater usage, similar to the full cost recovery system that is in place for water and wastewater assets in Cobourg.

The Town has funded stormwater infrastructure needs through property taxes in the past, but this has not been sufficient to fully fund all required maintenance and capital programs. Having a stable funding source for critical infrastructure such as water and wastewater ensures that operating and capital budgets are funded adequately to keep our residents and environment safe and healthy.

The funding structure will distribute fees proportionately among properties that produce more stormwater runoff. In Cobourg, approximately 32% of stormwater runoff is generated by residential properties and 68% is generated by non-residential properties. New stormwater rates will be based on the type and size of the property, therefore, allowing the Town to apply a more equitable distribution of fees, while also ensuring residential taxpayers are not indirectly subsidizing the cost of the stormwater system for other sectors under property tax funding.

Informative Frequently Asked Questions
Be sure to read this Frequently Asked Questions document for more information.

How Annual Rates are Calculated:
Annual rates are calculated per hectare of property. For low density properties (average single detached home) the rate per year is $904.72. To calculate each individual property annual fee, the Town of Cobourg uses the following calculation:



If you require any of the information in an accessible format, please contact the Communications Department at communications@cobourg.ca.

Stormwater Management:
Stormwater management is also a form of wastewater treatment, whereby rain water and snowmelt runs off across dirty roads and properties, makes its way through the storm sewer system and into a stormwater pond to settle out contaminants before being released to our creeks and drinking water source, Lake Ontario.

Background Information:
In May 2022, Cobourg Council passed a motion to introduce a dedicated funding source for residential stormwater usage, similar to the full cost recovery system that is in place for water and wastewater assets in Cobourg.

The Town has funded stormwater infrastructure needs through property taxes in the past, but this has not been sufficient to fully fund all required maintenance and capital programs. Having a stable funding source for critical infrastructure such as water and wastewater ensures that operating and capital budgets are funded adequately to keep our residents and environment safe and healthy.

The funding structure will distribute fees proportionately among properties that produce more stormwater runoff. In Cobourg, approximately 32% of stormwater runoff is generated by residential properties and 68% is generated by non-residential properties. New stormwater rates will be based on the type and size of the property, therefore, allowing the Town to apply a more equitable distribution of fees, while also ensuring residential taxpayers are not indirectly subsidizing the cost of the stormwater system for other sectors under property tax funding.

Informative Frequently Asked Questions
Be sure to read this Frequently Asked Questions document for more information.

How Annual Rates are Calculated:
Annual rates are calculated per hectare of property. For low density properties (average single detached home) the rate per year is $904.72. To calculate each individual property annual fee, the Town of Cobourg uses the following calculation:



If you require any of the information in an accessible format, please contact the Communications Department at communications@cobourg.ca.

Consultation has concluded

Have a question about Stormwater Management Funding? Ask it here!

  • Share Where are the 6 stormwater ponds that are well maintained? What does pond maintenance consist of? on Facebook Share Where are the 6 stormwater ponds that are well maintained? What does pond maintenance consist of? on Twitter Share Where are the 6 stormwater ponds that are well maintained? What does pond maintenance consist of? on Linkedin Email Where are the 6 stormwater ponds that are well maintained? What does pond maintenance consist of? link

    Where are the 6 stormwater ponds that are well maintained? What does pond maintenance consist of?

    Francis asked almost 2 years ago

    Please refer to the Stormwater Asset Management Plan and Funding Assessment report prepared by Watson & Associates. On Page 3-3 there is a detailed list of all operating and capital activities required for each type of stormwater assets including ponds. 

    The 6 pond locations are as follows: 

    •  Terry Fox, 965 Frasor Court

    •  Burnham (Water Tower), 60 Strathy Road 

    •  Densmore Road, 128 Densmore Road 

    •  Read/Otto, 959 Otto Drive 

    •  Chris Garret Park, 990 Birchwood Trail   

    •  Foote Cres (Brook Meadows), Foote Crescent

    Laurie Wills, Director of Public Works

  • Share What percentage of the new developer fees/ levies are being placed towards the Stormwater Management budget? e.g. Tribute Communities, etc. What strategies are in place to improve the antiquated infrastructure in downtown Cobourg and within the historical districts? What are these plans? on Facebook Share What percentage of the new developer fees/ levies are being placed towards the Stormwater Management budget? e.g. Tribute Communities, etc. What strategies are in place to improve the antiquated infrastructure in downtown Cobourg and within the historical districts? What are these plans? on Twitter Share What percentage of the new developer fees/ levies are being placed towards the Stormwater Management budget? e.g. Tribute Communities, etc. What strategies are in place to improve the antiquated infrastructure in downtown Cobourg and within the historical districts? What are these plans? on Linkedin Email What percentage of the new developer fees/ levies are being placed towards the Stormwater Management budget? e.g. Tribute Communities, etc. What strategies are in place to improve the antiquated infrastructure in downtown Cobourg and within the historical districts? What are these plans? link

    What percentage of the new developer fees/ levies are being placed towards the Stormwater Management budget? e.g. Tribute Communities, etc. What strategies are in place to improve the antiquated infrastructure in downtown Cobourg and within the historical districts? What are these plans?

    TaxPayer of Cobourg asked almost 2 years ago

    Please refer to the Development Charges By-law 2022-001 and the Development Charge Background Study, dated November 5, 2021 as prepared by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. Stormwater Management services are included in development charges by-law however development charges are specifically collected for capital investments in infrastructure ie. the initial construction of all new infrastructure required for each development. The stormwater user fee considers growth for when the Town assumes ownership of the new infrastructure from a development and the costs required to budget for operations, maintenance, and lifecycle replacement.

    Please indicate where you feel the infrastructure in the downtown and historical districts is 'antiquated'? All infrastructure (assets) within the Town of Cobourg is required by the Province to have an Asset Management Plan in place by July 1, 2025. Currently Public Works is completing one aspect of the plan for all core assets which include stormwater, water, sanitary, bridges and roads. Each asset will have a condition assessment either physically conducted or assigned based on age/material, etc. Each asset has an established lifecycle (how long it lasts), assigned rehab activities (ie. resurfacing, crack sealing), and a risk/consequence of failure evaluation. Each of these criteria are what drives the capital and operating budgets associated with the assets and determines their priority. Asset management requires a 10 year forecasted financial plan (including how the plan is to be funded) for all assets which is what has now been completed for the Town's stormwater management assets and why there is a stormwater user fee being proposed.

    Laurie Wills, Director of Public Works
    lwills@cobourg.ca 

  • Share Since this was part of the general levy and would come out of there, would there be a decrease overall or would taxes just go up more? on Facebook Share Since this was part of the general levy and would come out of there, would there be a decrease overall or would taxes just go up more? on Twitter Share Since this was part of the general levy and would come out of there, would there be a decrease overall or would taxes just go up more? on Linkedin Email Since this was part of the general levy and would come out of there, would there be a decrease overall or would taxes just go up more? link

    Since this was part of the general levy and would come out of there, would there be a decrease overall or would taxes just go up more?

    Spiritdancer asked almost 2 years ago

    Stormwater management currently has had an operating budget of ~$400k which will in future be absorbed by the new Stormwater Rate and reduced from the Operating budget. There will be a decrease in the operating budget that is funded by the Tax Levy related to stormwater management which will be evident by the allocation of recoveries for activities such as streetsweeping and stormwater pump stations. There will also be new activities added to the operating budget as part of the new stormwater management program including CCTV of sewers, and staffing to conduct the work so it is expected that the general tax levy will not be reduced substantially as a result of the stormwater management plan. The stormwater rate is not considered to be part of the tax levy, but instead a user fee similar to water and wastewater user fees that are invoiced on your utility bill.