San Diego Coastkeeper


SCA 12: Local Financing for Stormwater Management


WHAT is SCA 12?
The California Constitution requires a local vote for any property-related fee, with the exception of water, sewage and refuse collection fees. SCA 12 would amend the California Constitution to include stormwater management as an additional exception to this requirement. However, amending the constitution requires statewide voter approval. SCA 12 provides municipalities with the opportunity for a steady source of funding to reduce stormwater pollution and protect the health of the waters on which all Californians depend.

WHY do we need stormwater management?
Urban and stormwater runoff is the single greatest source of pollution to California's coastal waters. Runoff potentially contains a host of pollutants such as trash, debris, oils and grease, metals and toxic chemicals that adversely affect lakes, rivers and coastal waters. Municipalities collect and discharge stormwater containing urban runoff through stormwater conveyance systems, and reduce pollutants to the maximum extent practicable before discharging to bodies of water.

HOW does stormwater runoff affect me?
  • Runoff from property pollutes the stormwater system. Your local government must pay for reducing the pollution from the stormwater system that originates in homes, local businesses and public land.
  • Stormwater is the number one source of pollution of Southern California’s famed beaches, central to California’s multi-billion dollar coastal tourism and recreation economy.
  • Beach closures due to stormwater pollution have had significant and costly impacts on local economy.
HOW MUCH will it cost?
Your state constitution limits all property-related fees. The fee cannot generate more than the stormwater management costs, and must be directly related to the cost to provide the service to your property. That means any stormwater fee will be a calculation of how much it costs to provide stormwater management to your property.

WHO will have to pay and HOW will it be collected?
All property owners would have to pay a monthly fee, e.g. on a monthly property bill. This includes all property owners- residential, commercial and industrial property, and all public lands, including parks and municipal land.

HOW can I help?
Send a letter of support to your local legislator and let them know you support SCA 12. Find out how to contact your legislator at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html. For more information on SCA, contact us at info@sdcoastkeeper.org or (619) 758-7743.

Click here to download a support letter for SCA 12.
Click here to find the Senator and Assembly Member of your district.