Section 12 of the ordinance establishes a utility fund for the deposit of all fees and charges collected by the utility. The funds are for the exclusive use of the utility, including but not limited to the following:
- Administrative costs associated with the management of the utility
- Construction of flood control and water quality projects
- Debt service financing
- Extension and replacement costs
- Funding of pollution abatement devices constructed on stormwater systems discharging to the surface waters of Pasco County
- Operation and maintenance of the Stormwater Management System
- Planning and engineering
The stormwater utility fee also provides funding necessary to meet certain legal obligations of state and federal law regarding the water quality of stormwater, such as the county's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) Permit Compliance Program. The NPDES Permit is a federally mandated program that is authorized by the 1972 Clean Water Act of the United States Congress.
