Quick primer: what “MS4” means

MS4 is shorthand for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System—the streets, gutters, storm drains, pipes, and ditches that move rainwater and snowmelt from neighborhoods to nearby streams, rivers, or lakes.

The City also notes that storm drains are separate from sanitary sewer systems, so whatever goes into storm drains can flow directly into local waterways.

Why Scottsburg is adding a stormwater fee

The City says it was officially notified as a Phase 2 MS4 community in 2021, and that MS4 program requirements are an unfunded mandate delegated down to local communities. The City says that in 2025, it established a Stormwater Program to manage runoff, reduce flooding, protect local waterways, and comply with state and federal environmental requirements.

Beginning in 2026, the City says the stormwater fee will be added to property tax bills to support this program. The City says the fee was approved by the Board of Works and City Council to maintain compliance with Indiana’s IDEM regulations.

How much is the stormwater fee?

1) Homes and farms (single-family residential/agricultural)

• $7.00 per month per ERU
• The City says single-family residential/agricultural properties are billed one ERU monthly

2) The ERU definition (the key number)

• 1 ERU = 3,100 square feet

3) Businesses and industry (non-residential/commercial)

The City says the non-residential stormwater fee is determined using an impervious-surface formula:

[total impervious surface area / 1 ERU] × $7.00 = SW fee per month

In plain terms: more impervious area (like rooftops and parking lots) can mean more ERUs—and a higher monthly fee—under the City’s calculation.

Where the money can (and can’t) be used

The City says the stormwater fee is only to be used on City stormwater infrastructure, and it does not include personal property.

The City lists the fee’s funding purposes as:

• Flood reduction and drainage improvements
• Maintenance of storm drains, ditches, and culverts
• Water quality protection for local streams and rivers

What to check when the 2026 bill arrives

• Look for the stormwater/MS4 fee line item and confirm it appears as the City says it will.
• Check your property classification (single-family residential/agricultural vs. non-residential/commercial/industrial).
• If you’re residential/ag: the City says you should see one ERU monthly.
• If you’re non-residential: use your tax bill’s displayed ERU/impervious-area calculation—City materials emphasize that the fee depends on that formula.
• Scope check: the City says this fee supports City stormwater infrastructure, not personal property.

The City also encourages residents to report specific drainage problems so it can prioritize: email the MS4 Coordinator at mwoods@scottsburg.in.gov.

Sources

• City of Scottsburg Stormwater (FAQ page with fee details and 2026 tax-bill timing)
• Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM): Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) overview
• U.S. EPA: Developing an MS4 Program (SWMP requirements overview)