Stormwater Enterprise Fund

Stormwater Rate Study and Community Workshop

Douglas County is inviting residents, property owners, and stakeholders to participate in a Board of County Commissioners meeting and community workshop on April 16, 2026, to review and provide input on initial recommendations from the County's Stormwater Utility Rate Study.

The Board will receive initial rate study recommendations during its April 16 meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. at the Historic Courthouse in Minden. The stormwater item is the first item to be heard on the administrative agenda. Following the Board meeting, a community workshop will be held in the dining room at the Douglas County Community & Senior Center.

The workshop provides an additional opportunity for residents to review information, ask questions, and provide feedback on the preliminary recommendations.

Establishment of Stormwater Enterprise Fund and Utility Rate Study Contract

At its December 4, 2025 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution 2025R-102, officially establishing a Stormwater Enterprise Fund and moving forward with the creation of a county-wide stormwater utility.

• View the meeting on YouTube
• View the presentation to the Board

Actions Approved by the Board

• Created the Stormwater Enterprise Fund, effective December 20, 2025
• Authorized staff to develop a county-wide stormwater utility with an equitable fee structure
• Directed staff to prepare a future agenda item to reallocate the existing $1.1 million annual General Fund transfer currently used for stormwater, once the utility is operational
• Approved a $128,316 professional services contract with Financial Consulting Solutions Group, Inc. (FCS Group) to conduct the utility formation and rate/revenue study (County Manager authorized to approve amendments up to 5%)

Purpose and Benefits

The 2024 Stormwater Master Plan identified various objectives related to stormwater infrastructure and increasing state and federal regulatory requirements. The new enterprise fund and utility will:

• Provide a dedicated, reliable, and transparent revenue source used only for stormwater needs
• Replace the current practice of using limited General Fund dollars
• Distribute costs more fairly based on actual stormwater impact
• Enable the County to meet regulatory mandates and reduce flooding and water-quality risks

This funding model is successfully used by more than 2,000 communities across the United States.

Actions Leading Up to the Stormwater Enterprise Fund

• Created the Stormwater Enterprise Fund, effective December 20, 2025.
• Authorized staff to develop a county-wide stormwater utility with an equitable fee structure.
• Directed staff to prepare a future agenda item to reallocate the existing $1.1 million annual General Fund transfer currently used for stormwater, once the utility is operational.
• Approved a $128,316 professional services contract with Financial Consulting Solutions Group, Inc. (FCS Group) to conduct the utility formation and rate/revenue study (County Manager authorized to approve amendments up to 5%).

Stormwater Planning Mini Presentations

Following the success of the September 17, 2025, Stormwater Workshop, the Douglas County Stormwater Division—building on its proactive commitment to public safety, open space preservation, and water resource management—brought the conversation directly to residents through a series of smaller, community-based presentations.

These sessions highlighted the importance of preserving open space, maintaining essential stormwater infrastructure for community safety and watershed health, and underscore one critical message: without a dedicated funding source, the County cannot sustain the long-term protection, resilience, and quality of life that residents depend on.

Presentation Dates & Locations:

• 📅 October 7, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. – Gardnerville Town Hall (1407 Highway 395 N. Gardnerville NV 89410) A presentation will be given to the Town of Gardnerville Board during its regular meeting. The stormwater presentation is item 10 on the agenda.
• 📅 October 13, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. – Topaz Ranch Estates Community Center (3939 Carter Dr, Wellington, NV 89444)
• 📅 October 16, 2025 – Tahoe Justice Court (175 Highway 50, Stateline, NV 89449) Board of County Commissioners meeting starts at 10 a.m. The stormwater presentation will be heard at 2 p.m.
• 📅 October 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. – Pinion Hills Elementary (1479 Stephanie Way, Minden, NV 89423)
• 📅 Monday, November 3, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. – Genoa Town Hall (2289 Main Street, Genoa, NV 89411)
• 📅 Monday, November 3, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. – Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School (701 Long Valley Rd, Gardnerville, NV 89460)

Next Steps

We remain committed to continued community engagement throughout the process of developing the rate structure—stay tuned for updates as we schedule public feedback sessions and opportunities for input in the coming months.