In January the property owners for as many as 15,000 land parcels in Fountain Hills will receive a bill for $36 to help offset the costs of mandatory state and federal environmental requirements.

A series of informational open house meetings will begin next week to help residents understand the new fee.

In late 2014, the Town Council approved a $3 per month ($36 per year) environmental fee for each parcel of land here.

The council had met and discussed the possibility of an environmental fee dating back to 2007. After discussing and reviewing other options at 18 separate meetings, the council voted Nov. 20, 2014, to approve a $3 per month fee per parcel to offset the costs of an environmental program for the town.

The environmental fee revenue will support a number of environmental programs, many of which are mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Clean Water Act and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

Government mandates require the town to undertake such measures as street sweeping, dust control, dam inspection and maintenance and securing EPA/ADEQ permits.

The environmental fee will also help pay for additional safety items such as storm water management, wash drainage and maintenance, on-call storm damage cleanup and a household hazardous waste collection day for residents.

Unlike cities and towns that have environmental fees that are passed along to residents in their water and sewer bills, the Town of Fountain Hills does not operate its own water and sewer utilities and is unable to include these fees on residential utility bills.

The town attempted to work with utility providers EPCOR Water, Fountain Hills Sanitary District and Republic Services to bill their customers for the environmental fee, but since the environmental fee was based on a cost per parcel rather than utility accounts, billing arrangements with the utilities could not be worked out.

After analyzing other billing options for managing the distribution and collection of approximately 15,000 bills, it was determined it would be more cost effective to contract with a company with expertise in billing services versus the town performing the billing and collections itself.

The town issued a request for proposals process to multiple companies that could assist the town in billing for the environment fee. Town staff evaluated a proposal from AMS Billing Services (AMS) and concluded that it not only met the contractual town requirements but also had expertise in similar types of municipal billings around the country.

The estimated annual cost for AMS to manage the entire billing and collection process is $85,000.

At $36 per year per 15,000 parcels the town should collect $540,000 from the program.

The town’s annual expenses related to storm water and environmental items total $516,115 and includes permit fees, street sweeping, dam maintenance and inspection, wash maintenance, drainage and culvert maintenance and hazardous waste collection.

When the cost of the billing program is added the total is $601,115, leaving a deficit of $61,115.

Following the award of a contract to AMS, the company initiated an implementation plan to prepare and mail the environmental fee bills to all Fountain Hills parcel owners in early January 2016.

Town staff has worked with AMS to develop a bill format and methods of payment.

AMS will send a mailing on behalf of the town to introduce the environmental fee and explain the bills that residents will be receiving in January.

The new environmental fee will help the town pay for complying with federal and state mandates as well as other important services designed to maintain the safety of residents in town.

Without the fee revenue, the town could find itself paying hefty fines for non-compliance of these mandates or possibly reducing other town services to pay for these services.

The town has scheduled the following open house meetings for residents to attend and learn more about the environmental fee:

*Wednesday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m., Community Center, Yavapai Room.

*Wednesday, Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m., Community Center Computer Lab.

*Tuesday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Community Center Yavapai Room.

*Tuesday, Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m., Community Center Yavapai Room.