City officials told the council the financial aid will not raise rates for other rate payers. Council member Drew Herzig, who proposed the program in August, suggested applications be made each time a ratepayer has trouble paying a bill
“I would suggest that any application will only apply for the current billing cycle, but individuals can apply as often as they need to, so an application will only be good for one use.”
Citing budgetary concerns, council member Arlene Lamear recommended limiting the number of times applicants could access the program.
“It seem like with our limited funding, just 10 thousand dollars, which doesn’t go very far when you start paying water bills. I think the applicant should only be able to access that fund twice a year, which the way it was figured out, would be 67 households.”
Herzig also urged notifying delinquent ratepayers early in the process that assistance is available, in order to avoid shut-offs before applications could be approved. He suggested citizens should apply for the program as soon as they receive a delinquent notice in order to avoid shut-off.
George Sabol, executive director of Clatsop Community Action, said his organization would administer the program. To qualify for assistance, applicants will have to demonstrate income below 30% of the average median income in Clatsop County. For example, an individual would need to have a monthly income of $957 or below.
The council approved the utility assistance program with a limit of two billing cycles per year, Information about the program will be included with the green card delinquent notice.
The program will initially be seeded with a 10 thousand dollar grant from the city.
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