West Haven's storm water budget leans on $766,238 in reserves as a fee increase is studied

West Haven's storm water utility will draw $766,238 from its reserves and receive a $500,000 transfer from the general fund to balance its fiscal 2027 budget, according to the city manager's budget summary. ^[1]

"Simply put, the Storm Water Fund needs to increase its operating revenues, which means storm water utility fees must rise," the summary says. ^[1]

The numbers

The summary says the current fee of $3.00 per connection is expected to generate $343,000, less than the $415,238 depreciation amount the budget uses for replacing storm water infrastructure at the end of its life. ^[1]

The summary puts the total storm water budget at $1,462,238, "with $142,000 in impact fees, $500,000 Transfer from the General Fund, and $766,238 from Fund Balance (reserves) used to balance the fund." ^[1]

In fiscal 2025, the storm drain utility reported $323,633 in charges for services and $676,475 in expenses, according to the city's audit. ^[3]

The fee study and state audit

The summary says the city hired a financial consultant in 2025 for a storm water utility fee study, expected to be finished in the third or fourth quarter of 2026, so the fiscal 2027 budget uses the current fee. It says city staff surveyed eight comparable Weber and Davis County cities and found average fees of $7.25 in 2024 and $7.94 in 2026. ^[1]

It says a fee increase is "likely in the near future," that a budget amendment may be necessary, and that the council will hold a public hearing. ^[1]

At the council's Aug. 19 work session, Fred Philpot of LRB Finance gave a presentation on a storm water utility fee increase. No action is taken in work sessions. ^[2]

The summary also says the state Department of Environmental Quality selected West Haven for a storm water audit in or around March 2024, and that the audit "identified areas of weakness and opportunities for improvement." ^[1]