Fixed Charge

The fixed charge Funds the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the City’s Stormwater System and is currently $10.50 per Equivalent Service Unit (ESU)* per month.

• The rate is set by Clean Water Services and billed through the City of Hillsboro.
• The City retains 75% of the fixed charge and Clean Water Services receives 25%. 

Local Service Fee

The Local Service Fee (LSF) funds the repair and replacement of aging Stormwater infrastructure and is currently $2 a month per ESU. 

• The rate is set and billed by the City of Hillsboro.
• The City retains 100% of the LSF. 
• The Fee was established in 2015 to supplement the fixed charge. 

*An ESU is the size of the impervious surface area — such as pavement, rooftops, and other surfaces that allow little or no stormwater to soak into the ground. One ESU is equal to 2,640 square feet of impervious surface area.

The Local Service Fee invests in repairing or replacing aging stormwater infrastructure, which has been around for more than 80 years, including:

• Repair or replacement of catch basins to ensure access and effective drainage
• Repair and replacement of storm pipes
• Rehabilitation of stormwater management facilities to re-establish treatment effectiveness
• Repair, rehabilitation, or retrofit of outfalls to stabilize stream banks
• Repair or replacement of existing Stormwater System infrastructure during planned public roadway improvement projects — also known as Capital Improvement Projects.

Learn about our current Stormwater Management Facility Repair Projects.

On September 1, 2020, the Hillsboro City Council approved a five-year adjustment schedule to the LSF.

On January 1, 2023, the LSF increased from $2.50 per Equivalent Service Unit to $3.00. 

An Equivalent Service Unit (ESU) is the size of the impervious surface area – such as pavement, rooftops, and other surfaces that allow little or no stormwater to soak into the ground. One ESU is equal to 2,640 square feet of impervious surface area.

The adjustment will be applied to the Surface Water Management LSF portion of the City of Hillsboro utility bill, not the sanitary sewer, transportation, or drinking water utility fees.

The five-year adjustment schedule to the LSF will include a 50-cent increase each year for four years, beginning in 2022. The increase will take effect on January 1 of each year.

• 2021: $2 per ESU
• 2022: $2.50 per ESU
• 2023: $3 per ESU
• 2024: $3.50 per ESU
• 2025: $4 per ESU

During the year, community members are invited to ask questions, express concerns, and provide feedback on the Surface Water Management Local Service Fee in several ways:

• In person or by mail:
  4415 NE 30th Avenue
  Hillsboro, OR 97124
• By phone: 503-615-6509
• Email the Public Works Department

2015

The Hillsboro City Council approved a $1 per ESU Surface Water Management Local Service Fee with a five-year program evaluation in 2020. 

May 7, 2019

The five-year program evaluation confirmed the current rate was not effective in addressing the Stormwater System’s backlog— totaled at 132.2 million — and/or postponed repair to the system’s infrastructure and assets. In response, the Public Works Department presented five LSF adjustment options to City Council during a work session.

May 20, 2019 through July 31, 2019 

Community members were invited to provide feedback on the LSF adjustment options during a public input period through a community survey, at community events, by phone or mail, and on social media. 

August 13, 2019

Following the public comment period, two additional LSF rate adjustment options were proposed to City Council during a work session. 

February 18, 2020

Staff recommended a $1 LSF increase per ESU in the first calendar year and a 50-cent increase each calendar year for four years.

August 11, 2020 

The Finance Committee reviewed and approved the staff recommended LSF adjustment to be approved by City Council.

September 1, 2020 

City Council held a public hearing and approved the staff recommended LSF adjustment.   

January 1, 2021

The new rates are applied only to the Surface Water Management LSF portion of the customer’s utility bill.