CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – As Horry County’s population grows, you may have to pay more for runoff and drainage maintenance. County leaders are nearing a decision on how much to raise stormwater fees.
If you live in unincorporated Horry County right now you pay just $29.40 a year in stormwater fees. Those fees haven’t been updated since 2000, and because of that the county says it’s about six months to two years behind in responding to maintenance calls.
The stormwater advisory board has recommended a $10 increase for the upcoming year, but county council could raise it by $15 or $20.
A $10 increase would create $1.6 million in revenue per year, and $20 would create $3.2 million.
A county committee also discussed creating a stormwater fee surcharge on increases in “impervious” areas, meaning when natural land is replaced by development. Councilman Johnny Vaught said this is different than impact fees because it wouldn’t apply just to a specific area of new development.
“A lot of the problems came about in the 2015, 2016 storms that really showed where we’ve got some weaknesses in our system,” Horry County Stormwater Manager Tom Garigen said.
One area hit hard by the storms was the Highway 9 corridor in Longs. Keith Jester, President of the Colonial Charters Homeowners Association, said neighborhood roads and homes flooded in feet of water.
“People were abandoning cars to walk through the water to get to their houses further back in the community during the last big storm,” Jester said.
He’s all in favor of the county charging people more for better drain maintenance. “I think he should have asked for $15 minimum,” Jester said, referring to Garigen’s $10 increase recommendation.
No final decision has been made, and Horry County Council would have to approve any fee increases when they finalize their budget for the upcoming year.
