Affordability Impacts of Alternative Funding Schemes to Finance the Costs of Meeting MS4 Permit Regulations in Riverside
by Niloofar (“Niloo”) Shoja Razavi, prepared for the City of Riverside
About the Project:
This project supports the City of Riverside Public Utilities Department in evaluating how different funding approaches—such as parcel taxes or property taxes—might affect household water affordability as the city works to meet state stormwater (MS4) permit requirements. Using geospatial mapping and affordability metrics, the analysis will demonstrate how costs may vary across neighborhoods and demographic groups, providing data-driven insights to guide equitable funding strategies and support the City’s efforts to understand and communicate the real financial impacts of these permit requirements.
About the Randall Lewis Policy Researcher:
Niloofar (“Niloo”) Shoja Razavi is a Master of Public Policy student (Class of 2026) at UCR with a strong background in research and design. She holds a Master’s degree in Urban Design and a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Engineering, and is a fellow with the Western Municipal Water District (2025-2026). Niloo brings interdisciplinary expertise to her work, combining technical analysis with a commitment to advancing equitable policy solutions.
This project also benefits from the expertise and guidance of UCR School of Public Policy faculty Drs. Kurt Schwabe, Mehdi Nemati, and Andrew Crosby.
Report forthcoming.