Nancy Bennett said she had no idea the city would use her place of business on Old Lee Highway as a prime example of how costs could be cut through the city's water quality credits program.

But she said the city's suggestions would mean her paying more money.

"They're taxing you and then telling you to spend more to fix it up," said Mrs. Bennett, owner of Nancy's Home Furnishings.

During a two-hour slide show Thursday, city officials showed how water pooled at one corner of her store's parking lot. Another slide showed that a rain garden, if installed, would absorb most of the moisture.

Businesses and industries that qualify can receive up to a 75 percent one-time reduction in their stormwater fee if they submit a plan showing how they would help water quality.

Some of the fees can be offset by installing detention ponds, planting trees, employing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design techniques or establishing conservation easements.

But not all believe the credits are substantial enough.

"The amount of credits being offered is not enough to get the incentives," Mike Price of MAP Engineers said.

Residents are not offered the same incentives, officials said.

John Richardson, a resident of Old Stage Run subdivision in Hixson, told city officials last week during a hearing on water quality that his neighborhood was built to mitigate water quality. The subdivision has bioswales, he said.

But yet they do not get any kind of breaks, he said.

Mr. Littlefield acknowledged that was a unique situation.

"If we had more subdivisions like yours, we'd have less problems," Mr. Littlefield said.

Jeff Cannon, executive director of Green/Spaces, said there is plenty businesses can do to qualify for credits and reduce stormwater rainoff. He suggested green roofs on businesses and bioswales and rain gardens near parking lots.

With a green roof, only about 10 percent of water makes it to the city's combined sewer pipes or into stormwater ditches, he said.

He said he hears complaints of up-front costs. But paying a little more at first would be better than paying a huge fee year after year, he said.

The city needs to look at expanding the credits for residents, he said.

"Why not get the citizens involved in solving the process?" Mr. Cannon asked.

PDF: Revision of the water quality fee presentation

PDF: Water quality credit program presentation

WHAT CAN QUALIFY

Some improvements can qualify for up to a 50 percent reduction in water quality fees, including:

* Detention/retention facilities

* Floatable skimmers

* Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, facilities

* Stream buffers

* Conservation easements

* Retrofitting existing structures

Source: Chattanooga

ON THE WEB

Find out more about tax credits at www.chattanoooga.gov/Public_Works/70_TheStormwaterFee.htm