Stormwater Utility Community Meeting | November 12, 2025

The City of Savannah held a community meeting on November 12, 2025, to discuss the establishment of a dedicated stormwater utility. The chief of water resources and city officials presented the challenges of maintaining the city's extensive and aging stormwater infrastructure, which includes 416 miles of pipe. They proposed creating a stormwater enterprise fund, similar to the existing water and sewer funds, to provide a stable and equitable funding source through user fees based on impervious surface area. The proposed fee structure includes tiered rates for residential properties and proportional fees for non-residential properties, with credits available for properties that reduce runoff. The utility aims to enhance maintenance operations, increase ditch and canal maintenance crews, and fund capital projects totaling approximately $60 million, supported by local sales tax, state grants, and federal hazard mitigation funds. The city emphasized transparency in project prioritization and billing, with the first stormwater utility bills proposed for July 2026. The meeting also addressed community concerns about equitable fees, maintenance scheduling, and coordination with land use planning and development policies.