Stormwater fee fixes approved by Windsor council after problems with initial rollout

Leaves were cleared from a drain after a fall rain storm in Windsor, Ont., on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. (Chris Campbell / CTV Windsor)

Windsor city council has approved a series of changes to its new stormwater financing system, pledging to address concerns from residents and businesses who say the rollout left them facing unexpected cost increases.

The changes follow the launch of Windsor’s new stormwater financing model on January 1, 2025, which council approved in October 2024.

Intended to shift more costs onto properties with large impervious areas, the system instead led to billing confusion and unexpected increases. A mayoral directive issued on March 25 ordered a review, resulting in Monday’s corrective measures.

On Monday, council unanimously endorsed a package of adjustments recommended by administration after a review of billing data found several residential customers were paying more than anticipated.

To address that, the city will provide retroactive rebates to eligible residential accounts, ensuring all homeowners pay less toward stormwater and wastewater costs in 2025 than they did in 2024​

“This is a really fast response to a unique situation,” said Coun. Jim Morrison. “I think everybody has the right intentions to make it fair and equitable, but some folks are going to pay more and some folks are going to pay less.”

Administration will also implement a four-year phase-in for homes on septic systems, starting with a 75 per cent discount on this year’s stormwater fee.

Cemeteries and places of worship will receive a permanent 60 per cent subsidy, and a one-time transitional credit will be applied to all multi-residential, non-residential and business properties​.

Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac said it was important for residential properties to have access to projects that could reduce their bills, such as measures that limit stormwater runoff.

She also welcomed council’s move to ease fees for cemeteries.

“I tell you, the one that rocked me were the cemeteries,” she said. “I thought to myself, here we go, we’re going to be taxed even after we die.”

Mayor Drew Dilkens said the stormwater program was designed to make funding more equitable, shifting more costs to properties that contribute more runoff, but he admitted the rollout caused confusion — particularly when residents received split bills with different rates.

“There was no ill intent by anyone or any attempt to deceive the public,” Dilkens said. “It literally was a data error on the back end that we now have course-corrected on.”

Reflecting on Windsor’s history of floods, Dilkens said the city must continue investing in its drainage system to prevent catastrophic events.

“Residents don’t hold us responsible for the sewers that were put in the ground 100 years ago. But when we talked about a one-in-100-year storm, guess what — it used to happen once every 100 years,” he said.

“Now we’re seeing the one-in-100-year storm happen almost every year or every other year, so we have to be able to adjust and adapt.

Developer Joe Mikhail appeared before council to criticize the new fee structure, warning that the added charges are straining tenants and small businesses.

“You are going to cripple the businesses that support our community,” Mikhail said. “They cannot afford this.”

He also questioned how the city classified impervious surfaces, pointing to vacant land he owns where, he said, “fluid does pass through” and weeds grow.

Despite those concerns, councillors stressed they would continue refining — but not scrapping — the program.

Council further directed staff to study the possibility of creating a unique stormwater category for combined residential and agricultural properties, recognizing their lower runoff.

Administration will also provide regular updates on the overall impact of the new system and propose further options for credit programs where warranted.

Council unanimously approved the amendments and will continue monitoring billing impacts as administration rolls out the changes.

“No one is putting their heads in the sand,” Dilkens said. “We can certainly make this right — and we will continue to do so.”