Stormwater Utility

In order to manage additions and improvements to the city stormwater systems, the City must have adequate and stable funding for its stormwater management program operating and capital investment needs. 

The function of the City's Stormwater Utility is to:

  • Provide for the safe and efficient capture of stormwater runoff, 
  • Mitigate the damaging effects of stormwater runoff, 
  • Correct stormwater problems.
  • Fund activities of stormwater management including design, planning, regulations, construction and education.

Since all properties contribute to these issues, all properties, including exempt properties, pay into the stormwater utility. 

View the full chapter from the Newton, Iowa's Code of Ordinances of the Stormwater Utility by clicking here.

How Your Stormwater Utility Fee is Calculated

The equivalent residential unit (ERU) is the equivalent of 4,000 square feet of impervious area on your property as measured from aerial photography. The ERU rate is what you are charged for one ERU.

The ERU rate to be applied monthly to residential and nonresidential properties is as follows:

  • January 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022 the ERU rate is $4.
  • July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 the ERU rate will be $4.25.
  • July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 the ERU rate will be $4.50.

The monthly rate for each fiscal year thereafter will be determined by the City Council prior to July 1 of each year.

All residential single-family properties are charged for one ERU rate per month. Formulas are used to calculate and determination the number of ERUs for multi-family residential property's (apartment complexes), agricultural property, commercial property, exempt property and industrial property. You can view ERU determination information here.

Appeals Process

Those who believes the provisions of Chapter 53 of the Newton, Iowa Code of Ordinance have been applied in error may appeal in the following manner:

  1. An appeal must be filed in writing with the City of Newton, City Administrator. In the case of service charge appeals, the appeal shall include information on the total property area, the impervious surface area and any other features or conditions which influence the hydrologic response of the property to rainfall events.
  2. Using the information provided by the appellant, the City Administrator shall conduct a technical review of the conditions on the property and respond to the appeal in writing within 30 days.
  3. In response to an appeal, the City Administrator may adjust the stormwater ERU applicable to a property in conformance with the general purpose and intent of this chapter.
  4. The Zoning Board of Adjustment will act as a board of appeals to hear grievances arising from the decision of the City Administrator. The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall have no authority to waive requirements of this chapter and will only determine as to whether the requirements of this chapter were properly applied.
  5. Written notice of an appeal shall be submitted to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, care of the Newton City Planner, and shall include appellant name, subject property address, appellant address (if different than subject property), and grounds for the appeal. The Zoning Board of Adjustment will hold a public hearing on the matter within 30 days of receipt of the written notice of appeal. All decisions of the Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be final.