EL PASO, Texas -- After months of controversy and public outcry, the Public Service Board (PSB) on Wednesday voted to lower the stormwater utility fee at a special board meeting. PSB Chairman Ruben Guerra opened by saying, "We have spoken to countless groups, at countless forums, been called countless names, and I'm here to tell you that we've been listening."

Guerra along with the rest of the PSB was about to listen to a whole lot more from the packed room. The meeting opened up to public comment after they heard the new proposed stormwater utility fees.

"When are you guys going to realize, gasoline has gone up, taxes have gone up, property has gone up, food has gone up, where do you think we are going to be?" said one citizen.

"I really resent what you all tried to do to the people. If you could come in with this reduction now, where was your work before?" said another El Pasoan.

"We need to go back to square one, whatever happened to the democratic process where we as voters, as taxpayers get a chance to vote on a long, neglected issue of this magnitude?" said another resident during the public comment portion of the meeting.

After the board heard all of the speakers, they approved a 36 percent cut for residential and non residential customers. For residential, a small home used to pay $2.38 per month, now the fee will be $1.49. A typical size home saw a $4.75 fee, now the fee is $2.97. A large home used to pay $9.50 per month, now that number is down to $5.94.

For the controversial non residential stormwater charge, the fee per 2,000 square feet dropped from $4.85 to $3.03.

The board also approved a 10 percent additional credit for non residential customers who have onsite retention ponds required by a city ordinance. For school districts and nonprofits, they will have to pay 25 percent of the new rate this year, 50 percent in year two, and 75 percent in year three.

The new rates will begin in June 2008, and are not retroactive.

"Happy is relative. Some will be happy that their rates will be reduced, some will not be," Guerra told KFOX.

Guerra said the cuts that they made go to capital infrastructure, and he believes that Wednesday night's rate change puts the city more at risk.

"We're all gambling, gambling that we don't have another storm like we had," said Guerra.

The board said $31 million in the capital budget will now be cut for just the next three years.