A troubling stormwater bill that has been defeated numerous times in previous years has been refiled for the 2020 session. SB 1067 (Kiggans) provides that localities shall provide for full waivers of certain stormwater charges for public use airport runways and taxiways.
VACo has concerns with this legislation.
- Such an exemption will have a severe fiscal impact on a locality. Given their nature and their sheer size, airports are large contributors to water pollutants, and thus if they are exempted from their stormwater fees, those costs will be shifting to other ratepayers who in turn will have to pay a larger share.
- Legislation like this will only serve to open the door for other special interests seeking exemptions from stormwater fees. In fact, for this reason, the General Assembly has rejected this very bill before as well as similar bills seeking exemptions for churches and railroads.
SB 1067 has been referred to the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee but has not yet been placed on a docket.
VACo will continue to monitor SB 1067 and plans to oppose the bill as introduced.
VACo Contact: Chris McDonald, Esq.