Deerfield Changes Stormwater Charge Method for CVE Residents

The City of Deerfield Beach is implementing a change in how it charges residents for stormwater services, a shift that will affect owners in Century Village East. Until now, stormwater fees were included on monthly water bills, which were paid by CVE Master Management on behalf of the community. Moving forward, the stormwater fee will be added to property owners’ annual tax bills.

Previously, the stormwater charge amounted to approximately $2 per month, which was embedded in the overall cost of the CVE Master Management coupon, a monthly fee residents pay for various services. As a result of this change, CVE Master Management is now considering how the removal of this charge will be reflected in their 2025 budget.

“We are currently work- ing on the 2025 budget, said CVE Master Management Board President Eli Okun. “The two-dollar reduction will be factored into next year’s coupon.”

“However, this does not mean next year’s coupon will go down by two dollars since the coupon covers many other services for which costs are going up,” added Okun.

Stormwater refers to the rainwater that runs off roads, lawns, and other surfaces, eventually flowing into storm drains and waterways. Stormwater requires its own infrastructure and management, such as drain- age systems, catch basins, and water treatment, to prevent environmental damage and to ensure the community is protected from flooding.

All residents in the village, and in the entire City of Deerfield Beach pay storm water fees. In most places, the city uses those fees to maintain and repair the storm drain system in their neighborhoods. In Century Village East, however, it is CVE Master Management that maintains the storm drain system and incurs the costs associated with its repair and upkeep. Despite the city not maintaining the system in the village, village residents will still pay storm water fees to the city on their annual tax bills. CVE Master Management does not receive any of those funds to maintain the village’s infrastructure.

In Century Village East, stormwater fees have historically been included in resi- dents’ monthly water bills, paid directly by CVE Master Management. However, with the new approach, these fees will now appear on individual property tax bills. For most residents, this means the charge will be automatically included in their yearly property taxes, rather than being paid indirectly through their monthly management fees.

The shift in how stormwater charges are applied is part of the city’s broader effort to streamline its billing process and ensure proper funding for maintaining critical storm- water infrastructure. By mov- ing the fee to the property tax bill, the city hopes to simplify the payment structure while ensuring that funds are al- located appropriately for stormwater management.

Residents are encouraged to review their property tax statements carefully when they receive them in the coming year to ensure they understand the new stormwater charge.