Stormwater Tax To Appear On November Ballot

Voters in Los Angeles County will decide in November whether to levy a new special tax on businesses and homeowners to fund projects and programs to increase stormwater capture.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the Safe, Clean Water Program measure for the Nov. 6 election. 

Businesses and property owners would be levied a tax of 2.5 cents per SF of impermeable space on their property, such as roofs, driveways and other surfaces that create runoff rather than allowing water to seep into the ground, according to a report by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Nonprofits, schools and government buildings would be exempt.

The average homeowner would pay about $83 a year, according to reports. Businesses with large paved areas, such as a Costco, could spend tens of thousands a year, according to the LA Times. 

If passed, the measure is expected to generate $300M annually for the county. The money would go toward programs to capture and clean stormwater and prevent it from polluting rivers or the ocean. 

BizFed, an organization that represents more than 170 businesses across Los Angeles, called the stormwater program too onerous and costly and said it waters down the credit program.

Supervisor Janice Hahn, who was one of four supervisors that voted in support of the ballot measure, wrote in a series of tweets that this ballot measure would be good for the environment.

“Ever wonder why our beaches are forced to close after big storms?” Hahn wrote on Twitter. “The fact is our Beach Cities bear the brunt of the problem of toxic stormwater runoff.”

“I believe capturing & cleaning stormwater is important to the future of our County but ultimately it will be up to voters to decide if it is important to them as well," she wrote in another tweet.