WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsBusiness Owners Fight Storm Water Fee Increase

Business Owners Fight Storm Water Fee Increase

Update Dec 2nd 6 PM

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) -

City council approved the new water quality fee earlier this year, but they say they didn't know how costly it would be.

Tuesday they created a committee of business leaders to study the issue.

Business owners like Mark Murphy hope the committee will soften the blow.

His bill is ten times what it was last year, and he isn't sure his cemetery can shoulder the cost.

"We went from roughly $750 to almost $8,500," said Murphy, owner of Greenwood Cemetery, "honestly I'm not sure how we are going to do it."

Business owners with questions about the appeal process are urged to call 311.

The city asks for your patience, operators have been inundated.

The deadline to appeal or file for credits is December 31st, but that deadline will likely be pushed back.

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) -

Storm water fees are taking a hike, and Chattanooga city leaders say there's nothing they can do to stop it.

A public forum was held today for concerned residents and business owners.

Some are facing a 400-percent increase in fees.

It all stems from a state report in June, which found nearly 60-violations of the current permit.

State environmentalists found the program "woefully under funded" and fees hadn't been raised since 1993.

So the city is hiking the fee, in order to correct all the violations.

Business owners wonder how they will shoulder the cost.

"Last year the water quality fee was $1,325 and this year is has jumped to $5, 299," said one concerned business owner, "I just think it's very unfair."

There is an appeal process for business owners.

Appeals have to be filed by December 31st.