MORRISVILLE - Last month, the Town Council was asked to consider a new $45 annual stormwater fee to pay for system upgrades and new permitting requirements.

Now staff is asking the council to choose how they want the money collected, leaving the amount for later.

The Morrisville Town Council is set to vote Tuesday on whether to create a fee or use a tax to raise the needed funds. During the budget process, the council will decide how much to set aside for stormwater.

Staff estimate about $880,750 is needed. That figure includes $167,000 for a new stormwater inspector and engineer; $150,000 for stormwater system mapping; $125,000 for data collection, system design and surveys; $63,500 to retrofit sewers in rights of way; and $60,000 to purchase a mini-excavator.

Town Engineer Amanda Boone told the council in January that the town was doing its best with the resources available but was unable to meet even the minimum requirements of the old National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.

In addition to new federal requirements for pollution prevention and monitoring, the state had released new Jordan Lake standards. The new rules include 85 percent removal of suspended soils in water and reducing nitrogen by 2.2 pounds per acre per year, and phosphorus reduction by .82 pounds per acre a year.

All new development would have to build facilities that must handle up to 1.5 inches of rainfall. Previously the standard was 1 inch.

Morrisville wants to extend the Jordan Lake standards to the entire town, including the Neuse basin, which now has different guidelines.