Funding & Grants

The stormwater utility is primarily funded through the stormwater user fees paid by each property owner annually. However, the program has also been successful in securing over $500,000 of funds in the form of grants to the Town, which helps keep costs to property owners as low as possible. More information about the utility budget and grants received can be found below.

Budget

The budget for FY20 (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020) is approximately $847,500. The utility budget funds the following items with the overall ultimate goal of improving water quality:

- Capital construction funding of $341,000 in FY20
-2 full-time maintenance workers in the Town Garage who inspect, maintain, and repair 279 outfalls, 314 catch basins, and 2,282 underground pipes

- 1 technical position overseeing planning, design, and construction of Town assets

- Compliance with Town stormwater permits, which cost $20,000 annually
- Stream monitoring for nutrients, chloride, and bacteria (learn more information)

- Water quality testing at 13 public recreation sites each summer
- Street sweeping activities, including annual catch basin cleaning

Grant Funding

The Town has been fortunate enough to receive over $500,000 in grants. They include:

Condition Assessment: This $128,000 grant from the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission assisted with a town-wide assessment of all public stormwater infrastructure, completed in 2019. Phase 2 of this assessment will begin in 2020. We will use the information to develop an investment plan for the next 5 years to prioritize future spending needs.

Stormwater Improvements along Shore Acres / Cedar Ridge Rd:

The stormwater utility was awarded $295,200 in grant funding to design and construct stormwater improvements in the Shore Acres and Cedar Ridge neighborhood in Malletts Bay. More information is available on this project's webpage. Engineering and design work is expected to take place throughout 2020-21, with construction tentatively planned for the 2022 season. These funds are from the Federal Government's Transportation Alternatives Program.

Phosphorus Control Planning

The stormwater utility was awarded $40,000 to design a Phosphorus Control Plan, which is a required element of our federal stormwater permit. This Plan will identify stormwater improvements to be completed on Town properties by 2036. These funds are from the State's Municipal Highway and Stormwater Mitigation Program.