Cost Share Program
Clean Water And Storm Protection Fee Cost-Share Program
On July 5, 2019, Cupertino property owners voted on and approved the 2019 Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee. The fee appears on your property tax bill as a Special Assessment titled "2019 CUPT STORM WATER" that began in tax year 2019/2020. All revenues generated are used to prevent litter and other pollutants from reaching local creeks and the Bay as well as provide for timely proactive maintenance of aging stormwater infrastructure. Information about the City of Cupertino Clean Water and Storm Protection Program can be found at Stormwater Pollution Prevention page.
In an effort to reduce the financial impact this fee may have on low-income property owners, the City Council is offering a 20 percent cost-share program. The fee for an average-sized residential parcel is currently $44.42 per year. The cost-share payment would be calculated using that annual fee amount. Qualifying low-income property owners may apply for the cost-share program using our online application form. Upon approval, the City will refund 20% of the Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee collected on your most recent property tax bill.
| For example, if the annual Fee amount on the property tax bill is: |
Approved applicants will receive a check in the amount below: |
| $ 36.58 |
$ 7.32 |
| $ 44.42 |
$ 8.88 |
| $ 55.58 |
$ 11.12 |
| $ 92.64 |
$ 18.53 |
Household income limits: In order to qualify for the cost-share program, the total household income of the property owners must not exceed the limits shown below:
| Household Size |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
| Max Income |
$51,250 |
$58,550 |
$65,850 |
$73,150 |
$79,050 |
$84,900 |
Proof of Qualification
Property owners who participate in PG&E’s CARE or FERA discount programs will automatically qualify by providing a copy of a recent PG&E bill. Applicants who do not participate in PG&E’s CARE or FERA discount programs will need to provide proof of income (see examples below). Documentation can be uploaded via the online form. Note: For your protection, do not upload any documents that contain social security numbers or bank account numbers.
Examples of Documents that can be used
Most recent pay stub(s) from wages, salaries, or tips
Award letters or check stubs from: pensions, Social Security, Disability Payments, Workers Compensation, Unemployment Benefits, VA Benefits, school grants, scholarships or other aid, insurance settlement documents.
How to request the cost share benefit
Qualifying low-income property owners may apply for the cost-share program using our online Cost Share Application form.
Cost-share applications must be received by May 15, 2020 to receive a tax year 2019/2020 refund. In future tax years, the 2019 CUPT STORM WATER will automatically be reduced by 20% on your property tax bill, though you may be periodically asked to provide proof of income to continue receiving the discount.
Other Discounts Available
FAQs
Don’t my taxes already pay for this?
The City receives approximately 7% of the total property taxes collected on property located within the City. These revenues, along with sales tax revenues contribute to the general fund. As the Clean Water and Storm Protection program is currently operating at a deficit, your property and sales taxes are funding the general fund to make up the difference. In doing so, your taxes are being used not only for clean water and storm protection on your property, but also on the properties of others. Establishing a new property related fee to achieve cost recovery creates a means to ensure each property owner pays only for the benefit received, and does not subsidize another property owner’s benefit.
Why not let the General Fund continue to bridge the gap?
As described in the question above, the general fund is partially funded by both parcel and sales tax revenues. Currently, these revenues are being used to fund the Clean Water and Storm Protection Programs and every Cupertino resident is helping to pay for these programs not only for their parcel(s) of properties but also for the parcel(s) of others. Continued use of the general fund for these purposes will cause public improvements to facilities such as parks, streets and other publicly used assets to be either reduced, delayed or not funded. Establishing a new fee to achieve cost recovery creates a means to ensure each parcel pays only for the benefit received, and does not subsidize another parcel. As the general fund would no longer be subsidizing clean water and storm protection costs, other public assets would benefit.
How much is the new fee?
The new fee is based on the amount of impervious surface on your type of property. The fee for your property (or for each of your properties if you own more than one) was printed on the ballot you received through the mail in May. The new fee for a single family home on an average size lot is $44.42 per year in addition to the current single family amount of $12 per year.
Land Use Category and Proposed Fee, FY 2019-20
Single-Family Residential *
- Small (Under 0.13 acre) - $36.58 per parcel
- Medium (0.13 to 0.22 acre) - $44.42 per parcel
- Large (0.23 to 0.40 acre) - $55.58 per parcel
- Extra Large (Over 0.40 acre) - $106.42 per parcel
- Condominium 1 (Townhome style condo - no separately owned parcel units above or below) - $36.58 per parcel
- Condominium 2+ (2+ levels of units) - $11.99 per parcel
Non-Single-Family Residential **
- Multi-Family Residential - $30.88 per 0.1 acre
- Commercial / Retail / Industrial - $40.38 per 0.1 acre
- Office - $30.88 per 0.1 acre
- Church / Institutional - $26.13 per 0.1 acre
- School (w/playfield) - $19.00 per 0.1 acre
- Park - $7.13 per 0.1 acre
- Vacant (developed) - $2.38 per 0.1 acre
- Open Space / Agricultural - no charge
Low Impact Development Adjustment ***
* Single-Family Residential category also includes du- tri- and four-plex units
** Non-SFR parcels are charge per the tenth of an acre or portion thereof
*** Low Impact Development Adjustment only applies to condominium and non-single-family properties.
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