Flooding, Mandates & the Future:
Understanding Brentwood’ s Stormwater Fee
For over a decade, Brentwood Borough has held off implementing a stormwater management fee. Instead, the Borough has budgeted for and paid for stormwater-related projects and expenditures directly from revenues received through property taxes. This approach allowed us to continue investing in drainage improvements and infrastructure upgrades without creating a separate fee, even as many neighboring municipalities adopted one years ago.
However, rising costs, more frequent and impactful storm events, and increased flooding risks have made it clear that the curre nt approach is no longer sustainable. On top of these challenges, the Borough must comply with strict state and federal stormwater mandates— unfunded requirements that demand significant infrastructure investment. To address these needs fairly and transparently, Brentwood Borough has created a separate Stormwater Authority under the Pennsylvania Borough Code, which will implement a dedicated fee beginnin g in 2026.
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YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Q: Why is Brentwood Borough creating a Stormwater Fee?
State and federal laws require municipalities to manage stormwater to reduce flooding, erosion, and pollution. These are unfunded mandates, meaning the Borough must comply without outside funding. The Stormwater Fee provides a fair, sustainable way to meet these requirements.
Q: Why a fee instead of higher property taxes?
The fee is based on how much runoff a property generates— larger roofs and parking lots pay more, smaller properties pay less. Unlike taxes, the fee also includes tax-exempt properties such as schools, churches, and nonprofits that contribute runoff but don’ t pay property taxes.
Q: Who manages the program?
A newly formed Brentwood Borough Stormwater Authority will oversee the fee, ensuring every dollar collected is used only for stormwater improvements.
Q: Are other communities doing this?
Yes. Nearby municipalities including Baldwin, Dormont, Whitehall, and Mt. Lebanon already have stormwater fees in place. Brentwood is simply catching up.
Q: How will the funds be used?
All revenue will fund stormwater projects— repairing and replacing inlets and pipes, maintaining basins, reducing flooding and erosion, and meeting water-quality regulations.
Q: What will it cost?
The Stormwater Authority is finalizing the rates, but for most homeowners, the fee will likely be $ 10 –$ 14 per month— far less than a comparable tax increase.
Q: How will it be billed? The fee will appear on your monthly Sewage / Refuse bill.
Q: Why now?
After nine years without a tax increase, rising costs make it unsustainable to fund stormwater work from the General Fund. This dedicated fee protects core services while addressing vital infrastructure needs.
For details and updates, visit brentwoodpa. gov / stormwater.
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