Snellville leaders recently passed the first tax hike in years and today will vote whether to create a new utility fee.

Residents can voice opinions on the Stormwater Management Program during a public hearing at 7:30 tonight at Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.

The City Council is scheduled to take a vote afterward.

If an anonymous flier distributed Sunday to homeowners in the city is effective, the council may hear from city residents. "We, the citizens of Snellville, can become one voice against this new tax," stated the flier, which was tacked to posts and distributed at homes. It urged residents to "speak out against Snellville's stormwater utility fee" tonight.

Mayor Pro Tem Warren Auld said a new utility fee is needed to ensure a sound infrastructure, but he's not sure he will vote for the higher rate proposed by Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer.

It would cost the average homeowner $56.70-$94.50 a year, Billy Buckhalt, Snellville's construction manager said. But the measure may not gain a majority vote by the council.

"I don't know if I will support the higher rate," Auld said Friday. "One of the reasons I didn't support the millage increase is because we knew this fee was coming."

This fall, residents and business owners will see a one-half point millage increase on their property tax bills, translating to a $75 increase per $150,000 of assessed value.

If the City Council approves the proposed storm water fee, bills would likely be mailed in October, City Manager Russell Treadway said.

Homeowners would pay a fee based on their demand on the storm water system. City officials will measure impervious surfaces, such as sidewalks, roofs, driveways and patios to determine the fee, Treadway said.

There would be a separate fee range for commercial properties. Property owners with undeveloped land wouldn't have to pay a fee, since land absorbs water, according to the city's Web site, www.snellville.org.

Under the proposed plan, residents and business owners would be able to apply for credits if they take steps to minimize the runoff, Treadway said. One way would be to collect rain water from down spouts in barrels, he said.

In the first year, the fees would generate $1 million to $1.2 million, Treadway said.

There are projects, such as old and rusty pipes, that need to be tackled first, Auld said.

The city has to keep up with state and federal regulations and to plan for the future demands of a growing city, he said.

Employees with the Planning and Development and the Public Works departments will decide what needs to be done and will provide labor for the first year, Buckhalt said.