Bowling Green Approves Stormwater Utility Fee
Homeowners will pay an extra $4 on utilities as the city expands flood protection after the 2025 floods.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Utilities
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The Bowling Green City Commission unanimously approved a new stormwater utility fee following significant flood damage in 2025. Homeowners will pay an extra $4 on their utility bills, while larger properties will pay fees based on their impervious surface.
Why it matters
The fee is designed to raise money for stormwater infrastructure and mitigate storm damage to residents' property and businesses. For Bowling Green residents, it adds a recurring cost tied to the city's ongoing flood-prevention efforts.
The new stormwater utility fee adds $4 to homeowner utility bills and is projected to raise around $3.5 million annually. Larger properties, including restaurants and schools, will be charged based on impervious surface area, though specific rates for those properties were not detailed.
The players
Bowling Green City Commission
The elected governing body of Bowling Green, Kentucky, responsible for local ordinances, budgets, and municipal fees.
The details
The stormwater utility fee is assessed on utility bills, with homeowners paying a flat $4 increase and larger properties paying fees calculated from the amount of impervious surface on their land. The city has also bought at-risk property and expanded its existing stormwater infrastructure since the flooding.
Timeline
April 2025: Floods caused significant property damage in Bowling Green.
After the 2025 floods: The city commission unanimously passed the stormwater utility fee.
First quarter of 2027: The stormwater utility fee begins appearing on utility bills.
Market Landscape
The stormwater fee follows the city's post-2025 flood response, which included buying at-risk property and expanding drainage infrastructure. It converts that emergency spending into a recurring utility charge, shifting part of the long-term cost of flood mitigation onto ratepayers.
Bowling Green homeowners will see an extra $4 added to their utility bills once the stormwater fee takes effect. Owners of larger properties, including restaurants and schools, will pay amounts tied to how much of their land is impervious surface.
The takeaway
Residents should expect a recurring charge on utility bills starting in 2027 as Bowling Green funds ongoing flood protection. Property owners with large paved or roofed areas should review how the impervious-surface calculation may affect their costs.
What happens next
The stormwater utility fee is scheduled to begin appearing on utility bills in the first quarter of 2027.
Further reading
For more on how local governments fund infrastructure, explore Utilities coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WNKY News 40 Television.
Live Poll
Would you support a new stormwater fee on your utility bill to reduce flood damage?
