City elected officials are contemplating a return of the stormwater enterprise fund as a way to free money to support the beleaguered Colorado Springs Police Department.

The fund provided about $15 million a year for badly needed stormwater-control projects by assessing fees based on how much impermeable surface was on a property owner’s land. But a previous City Council ended the fund in 2009, a move that ultimately forced the city to sign a pact with Pueblo County this year to provide $460 million in stormwater projects by 2035.

That enormous annual obligation is guaranteed to keep city coffers tight, but relieving the stormwater burden could be one way to reclaim $15 million to $16 million, Mayor John Suthers recently told the Police Protective Association.

“We’re the only city in Colorado that doesn’t have that fee,” Council President Pro Tem Jill Gaebler said Thursday. “We’re talking about the health and welfare of our citizens, and we’re not adequately funding stormwater – and no city can without that fee.”

Council President Merv Bennett said, “We need to look at all of our options; that’s the responsible thing to do.”

“We may be forced to do it by the EPA,” Councilman Bill Murray said. “There’s no money left to pay for MS4 improvements.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has threatened to sue the city since EPA audits in 2013 and 2015 showed gross violations of stormwater standards. Such action would restrict the MS4 permit that allows the city to send stormwater into the interstate water system.

While a renewed stormwater enterprise fund could help the budget and police, the notion comes at a tricky time. All six of the council’s district seats are up for grabs in April’s election, and five of the incumbents are seeking reelection.

“Coming into the election cycle, certain council members might be unwilling to support a fee or a tax,” Gaebler said.

But, she added, “The mayor has the respect of his council, and if he came to council and talked about why this is important – especially with public safety being our No. 1 priority – I would get on board.”