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It sounded similar to a credit card advertisement, but with a different conclusion.

Marco Island’s varying proposals for assessments and fees didn’t add up to “priceless” for many residents and City Council seemed to take their concerns seriously. The effects of the proposed new fees on residents might sound like this: Storm water utility fee $72. Fire assessment $79. Payment-in-lieu-of taxes $100. New fees, limitless.

Of the multitude of alternatives raised by city officials, one of them, the storm water utility fee was shot down by City Council Monday night in a 4-3 vote.

“Well we’ve got one fee down and now we’ll see what happens to the fire assessment and the rest of them,” said resident Richard Smith.

The storm water utility fund would be used exclusively to improve rain drainage on island. It would pay for items such as installing larger pipes, treating storm water which may include pesticides and the city’s wells for holding the water, City Manager Steve Thompson said.

Residents voiced concerns in several recent City Council meetings that the new fees, such as the storm water utility fee, would just become additions to what property owners already pay in ad valorem taxes.

Island resident Dean Heard said every time a bill goes up “guess what, that means I can’t spend it at island businesses and restaurants.”

Chairman Bill Trotter, Councilor Chuck Kiester and Councilor Wayne Waldack voted in the minority to approve the creation of the storm water utility fund.

Trotter said support for the idea came from the need to create a “steady revenue stream,” as well as Public Works Director Rony Joel’s assertion that the fund will also help him receive more grants from organizations such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

“In my opinion it gets down to a fairness issue,” Kiester said.

Kiester suggested to continue having both a fire assessment and a storm water utility fee.

“Some homes will pay a lot more in both cases (with ad valorem) because of their higher value not because of their need or use, but simply because of their greater value. So any time a city has the opportunity to equalize, to make more fair, that’s the fairest way to go,” he said.

Councilor Jerry Gibson voted against the storm water utility fund, which would be a new enterprise fund.

“Quite frankly I’d rather not pay $150 more in taxes. To me it doesn’t matter whether it’s in a fund or paying taxes. I think it’s about holding the line and not increasing taxes in any shape or form. I think there are things we just need to cut,” Gibson said.

The July flooding of Marco Island, which occurred after two weeks of steady rain, followed by one day of intense rain combined with a high tide event, left some wondering if the storm drain system was to blame for the flood. Utility workers were sent out during the heavy rains to clear drains which were clogged by lawn and landscaping debris.

“The most recent storm event really demonstrated some deficiencies in our system,” Joel said.

Several residents disagreed with Joel including Dean Heard.

“When you have a three to four-foot tide and a lot of rain you’re going to have what we had regardless of pipes,” Heard said.

He suggested now wasn’t the time to take on significant capital improvements.

The utility as proposed by Joel would have doubled the amount of money residents paid for storm water drainage.

Currently, storm water maintenance is being done annually for about $400,000 which is paid for through property taxes and Joel said nothing is left for replacement of old pipes.

The new storm water fee would be another line item on the water utility bills customers receive. Billing would begin Oct. 1.

Fay Biles, president of the Marco Island Taxpayers Association, warned against the storm water fee.

“My phone is already ringing off the hook from the fire assessment bills,” she said.

Residents received notice of a fire assessment last week. The fire assessment, currently set at $79 for single family homes, will appear on property tax bills this fall and City Council may change or remove that fee at the meeting August 18.

Councilor Frank Recker said he was concerned about the message it would send to approve the storm water fee.

“Council has not showed commitment toward hiring new employees for $350,000, but will raise $800,000 in the blink of an eye with a user fee,” he questioned rhetorically.

Trotter saw the decision a little differently.

“We should stabilize a revenue stream. We’ll get grant money we wouldn’t get under ad valorem. We keep putting things off when we need to make decisions that impact the budget,” he said.

The storm water utility was proposed as an enterprise fund and would not be subject to the spending cap in the city’s charter. The spending cap is a restriction on government spending limiting an increase to no more than three percent plus a cost of living adjustment from one year to the next.

Many residents left Monday evening wondering if the storm water utility fee decision was any indication of what the council’s final decision about the fire assessment would be on August 18.

“The only difference is the fire assessment is under the cap,” Trotter said to the council audience.