The Rising Tide: Chambersburg Grapples with a Contentious Stormwater Fee Hike

Well, here we are again. Chambersburg Borough Council, after what was surely a taxing debate, has decided to raise the monthly stormwater fee for residents. It wasn't an easy call, not by any stretch, with a rather close 5-4 majority ushering in the change. And frankly, it's a decision that, come July 1st, will mean a bit more out of everyone's pocket: an increase from $5 to $8 per Equivalent Residential Unit, or ERU.

But why, you might ask? And truly, it's a fair question, especially for those already feeling the squeeze. The truth is, this isn't just a whim; it's rooted in the often-unseen but incredibly vital work of maintaining our town's infrastructure and, crucially, adhering to some pretty strict state and federal mandates. Think of the MS4 permit – a complex piece of environmental regulation that dictates how we manage runoff, protect waterways, and frankly, keep our community from facing hefty fines. The stormwater department, in essence, is on the front lines of this fight, and these funds, you could say, are their ammunition.

Now, if this all sounds a little familiar, it's because it is. We've been down this road before, haven't we? Back in 2017, the fee was first introduced at $5. Then, in 2020, it crept up to $8. But a year later, amidst understandable public outcry and, for once, a bit of financial breathing room thanks to federal ARPA funds, it was dialed back to the original $5. A brief reprieve, perhaps. Yet, as so often happens, those ARPA dollars have now run their course, and the core issues – escalating costs, an aging system that frankly needs constant attention – they never really went away.

The council members who championed this increase weren't just thinking about numbers on a spreadsheet, honestly. Folks like William Schaeffer and Michael Stepler spoke to the absolute necessity of it all, arguing that this isn't merely about maintenance; it's about environmental compliance, pure and simple. "We simply have no alternative," I recall Schaeffer putting it quite plainly. Kathy Leedy echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the financial strain on the department and the looming threat of penalties. And let's be real, when you look at neighboring towns – Harrisburg at $15, Carlisle at $10, even Shippensburg matching that $15 mark – our $8, while not insignificant, certainly doesn't seem out of line with the broader regional picture.

But then, you had the other side, voices expressing genuine concern for the everyday resident. Sharon Bigler, Amy Landis, Alice Elia, and Allen Metcalfe – they raised valid points, and rightly so. What about the retirees on fixed incomes, or families already struggling with inflation? Is this the right time, they wondered, to add another burden? There was talk, too, about whether there could be other avenues for funding, perhaps a more transparent plan for how these increased dollars would be spent. It’s a delicate balance, this, between civic responsibility and community hardship, isn't it?

So, where does this leave us? With a new fee, yes, but also with a lingering hope. Council member Daniel Stains, a proponent of the increase, nevertheless voiced optimism that additional state or federal grant money might, just might, become available in the future. Should that happen, well, the possibility of reducing the fee again isn't entirely off the table. A hopeful thought, perhaps, as we brace ourselves for this latest adjustment to the cost of keeping our water clean and our infrastructure sound.