[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6645564,"mediaKeyId","3647531-e69cbae1cd70c75c8322257b81f89bfe","parentId",3647531,"title","Bullhead City hears Catholic Charities presentation as $127,000 remains in proposed budget","audioSeconds",757,"startMs",256000,"endMs",1013000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3647531-e69cbae1cd70c75c8322257b81f89bfe&start=256&end=1013","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3647531-e69cbae1cd70c75c8322257b81f89bfe/thumbnail_256000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6645564/Bullhead-City/Mohave-County/Arizona/Bullhead-City-hears-Catholic-Charities-presentation-as-127000-remains-in-proposed-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645564-96a1e8369878122a0f7d5911b8784bdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137044&Signature=E1GuRsBkvdQOX9MlTu0XCENx984k2zGzrWqSJWe3lJvnGtL3vufxc3f1q6p6vrG-rAv0fXM-p8zhqdPucFXfhDrj88kuKADFud0o89NMFsv37p1CdLC1uFbM1rqutAWWcCDMHPDqC8qYyjraJm6gFZIXJ21k0UuQQjOIlX8yIwplIuW2Dwdg1szitPWNbPj1lCQ0rzXD86cvLQmamHeyOEn8qyBgkczwdL5rvE-eU0ligF5lhfaTUU9~iTeNN6LXWh2TvNxtjP3k88a0INnTQge2y9UGJ9mKme4t3ea1TAEQC4zDW7-H4M-uyDlbfBA3MMR0tZuC5cuYAzRYUBkX~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bullhead City","date","2025-06-03T00:00:00Z","article","Catholic Charities Community Services presented details of its Legacy Foundation Christine Stamper Center for Help and Hope and its operations in Bullhead City on June 3 as council members asked about funding sources, outreach and program oversight.

The nonprofit said the shelter provides 57 emergency beds, meals and case management and operates 24 hours a day to serve people experiencing homelessness in the community. Catholic Charities also described outreach work aimed at people with serious mental illness and outlined how volunteers and local partners support daily operations.

The presentation matters because the council included $127,000 for Catholic Charities in the city’s proposed budget; council members said the city will still vote on the tentative budget and on a contract to renew funding at a later meeting. That means council is deciding whether to keep municipal funding in place while also considering additional reporting requirements and contract language requested by council members.

Kathy Peterson, executive director for Northern Arizona at Catholic Charities Community Services, described the shelter’s capacity and services: “We provide 57 beds of emergency shelter, 40 beds for individual men and women. 8 beds for veterans.” Peterson said the site includes family space for up to three families, laundry, showers, computers and Wi‑Fi, and that the operation serves meals to people who are not staying overnight.

Olivia McCormick, chair of the Catholic Charities board of trustees, told the council the organization has undergone accreditation and financial reviews: “We are a trusted organization…we just recently went through a very, very extensive deep dive in our financial reporting, the policies and procedures so that the board has a full understanding.” Paul Mulligan, president and CEO, described the agency as mission‑driven and said it uses a mix of government contracts, grants and philanthropic support.

Rebecca Vaughn, community relations and shelter operations manager, provided usage figures the shelter said cover the 12 months from June 1 last year through May 30 this year: “We’re at 84,000 meals,” Vaughn said. She reported about 15,570 bed nights systemwide in that period and said family shelter stays totaled almost 3,000 bed nights for roughly 14 families over the year. Vaughn also said Catholic Charities counted roughly 33,000 total service contacts (meals, case connections, laundry, referrals) across that year and that the shelter operates at or near capacity most nights.

Council members asked how the shelter is funded and how much support comes from the Catholic Diocese. Mulligan said the organization receives a mix of government contracts and grants and donations from parishioners across the diocese. Statements in the meeting referred to a diocesan fundraising appeal and used the term “budgeted $800,000,” but the transcript numbers about the diocesan allocation were unclear in places. The council requested that Catholic Charities provide clear, written accounting for diocesan and other funding sources when the contract is returned for council consideration.

Council members also pressed on outreach and shelter policies. The contract between the city and the contractor includes language prohibiting providing tentage or supplies that would facilitate outdoor living except in narrowly defined PATH program outreach circumstances. The council heard that the shelter’s PATH outreach focuses on people with serious mental illness and that outreach staff distribute hygiene supplies, water and other items as engagement tools while attempting to connect people into shelter and treatment. The PATH program was described as a federal outreach program (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Council discussion clarified that tent camping is not allowed on city property except at Davis Camp where camping is managed under a permit or fee system. City staff said the city enforces a “zero tolerance” policy for unauthorized tent camping on public property and that outreach staff and police coordinate to encourage shelter use and to remove tents from public right‑of‑way.

Councilmember questions included requests for more oversight language in the city’s contract with Catholic Charities and for periodic reporting. Catholic Charities said it would be willing to provide regular updates; staff and agency representatives discussed returning quarterly reports to the council so the city can review program outcomes and finances.

What's next: The $127,000 remained in the proposed (tentative) budget at the workshop. City staff told the council the tentative budget will be considered for preliminary approval at the current meeting cycle and that a separate contract to renew funding for Catholic Charities will be brought back for council action at a future meeting, where council may adopt additional reporting or contract terms.

Community members who spoke during public comment both praised the shelter and raised concerns about campsite cleanup and public safety. One resident described volunteering at the shelter and urged continued community support; another said he frequently cleans up encampments and urged strict enforcement of the city’s no‑camping rules.

Ending: Catholic Charities asked the council for continued partnership while the city staff prepares the contract language and reporting requirements council members requested. The council signaled it would revisit the funding and the contract at upcoming meetings where both the budget and the contract will be formally considered.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bullhead City - City Council Work Session/Executive Session - Jun 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Catholic Charities Community Services told Bullhead City Council on June 3 that its Legacy Foundation Christine Stamper Center for Help and Hope operates a 24/7 emergency shelter with 57 beds and extensive meal and case‑management services while the city weighs $127,000 in proposed funding and a contract renewal.","taxTitle","Bullhead City, Mohave County, Arizona","taxId",54694,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6645560,"Bullhead City staff outline multi‑year water, wastewater rate increases and a low‑income discount plan",1016,3756000,4772000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3647531-e69cbae1cd70c75c8322257b81f89bfe&start=3756&end=4772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3647531-e69cbae1cd70c75c8322257b81f89bfe/thumbnail_3756000.jpg","/articles/6645560/Bullhead-City/Mohave-County/Arizona/Bullhead-City-staff-outline-multiyear-water-wastewater-rate-increases-and-a-lowincome-discount-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645560-77f3a318f40b69dbd193a1c7bd50110f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137044&Signature=Q6pyP9MOcwv2TI4v6MkSaUKE4NtWrxmB~aSj7-ouM0mWqutkJ45OFln-Kwj8s9gpoY5OR6dsfbV3SoOLHSx4HHRNfzrZ91fkZhPO0aqg5PxCgc~S-zK7enWX2eD7Ns40xaxyUlkPjncjoWxSlHb4NFbFVB-PghxfL7v6Bam85UNVyPl6SYUHPrs4sUexXCjqurl78RNpcVWQHIN~wC1eL2bpHE2II7b2GKWeAeiNmkQvGEvzYm2rdNHAlQoKtMAj4eG7QL250Z8Nbh5evH7P74d2R4gtRbfowogmwdlRMf4W490BRGRjeYv2CLNR~rR-70QF-JvO0QYpAMAPHCUMDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bullhead City staff presented a proposal on June 3 to raise water and wastewater rates in a three‑year phased plan and to revive and expand customer assistance discounts for low‑income and veteran households.

City staff said the water enterprise is operating at a multi‑million dollar annual shortfall and that infrastructure needs and supply‑chain pressures — including rising material and energy costs — require rate increases alongside targeted customer assistance.

Eddie (presentation lead) summarized external market pressures and supply chain impacts, including increased material costs and tariffs that staff said have driven up project estimates. Utilities Director Mark Clark told the council the city has spent roughly $9.7 million improving the water system since it took operational responsibility from the previous private operator and that enterprise revenues must cover operations, debt, and capital improvements.

Mark Clark said the recommended schedule is a 19% water rate increase in year one, followed by 14% and 14% in the next two years; staff modeled that trajectory to move the fund toward break‑even while phasing the increases to reduce one‑year impacts. Clark said wastewater rates would rise about 9% per year for three years because that enterprise is closer to covering costs but requires funds for recent plant expansion and other capital work.

Staff provided examples of the bill impact for typical customers. Using a sample monthly household water use of 4,000 gallons, the first‑year water increase would raise an average Mohave customer’s monthly water charge by about $4.96 and a North Mohave customer by about $8.27, according to staff’s models. Staff also compared the city’s proposed rates to current and projected rates of the previous operator and nearby utilities.

To accompany the increases, staff proposed an assistance and discount program to limit the burden on the lowest‑income customers. The program would allow eligible residential customers to qualify for up to $20 per month in discounts by stacking up to two $10 credits. Categories are: (1) low‑income (eligibility based on the U.S. federal poverty guidelines), (2) active duty military (proof of current service), and (3) disabled veteran (VA documentation). City staff said the poverty guideline thresholds used in the presentation were $15,760 for a one‑person household, $22,150 for a two‑person household, $26,650 for a three‑person household and $32,150 for a four‑person household.

Staff described program administration rules: applicants must be Bullhead City utility customers with active residential accounts in their names; only one application per household is permitted; customers must reapply annually; accounts must be current to enroll; and a disconnection for nonpayment voids the discount for one year from the initial application date. Staff said they will audit enrollments periodically and expect a large increase in applications once the program is promoted.

Staff also described existing customer protections: a high‑use bill review process that can adjust charges after verified leak repair (staff said they will consider up to three months when reviewing high usage), and utility payment plans handled by customer service. Juvy Bridal and Royal (customer service staff) explained the high‑use review steps and documentation needed to receive adjustments.

Council members asked about the size and timing of additional capital borrowing shown in staff models; staff said the debt projections include planned capital projects such as drilling a new well to replace an aging Lake Mohave Highlands well and associated transmission mains. Staff noted borrowing from the city’s general fund has been used to keep the enterprise operating while rates remain below cost; repayment timing will depend on council rate decisions and future fund performance.

City staff said the tentative budget process and subsequent public hearings will provide the council opportunities to adopt the rate changes and to finalize the assistance program. No final rate ordinance was adopted at the workshop; staff requested direction and said formal council action will be required at a future meeting.

Ending: The council heard the proposals and asked follow‑up questions about project timing, borrowing costs and program eligibility. Staff said they will return with materials needed for an ordinance or formal vote after additional modeling and public outreach.","City utilities staff proposed phased rate increases (water: 19% year one, then 14% and 14%; wastewater: 9% annually for three years) and a new Utility Assistance and Discount Program that would provide up to $20/month to eligible residential customers, using federal poverty guidelines and veteran/active duty categories.","actionData","errors"]

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Bullhead City hears Catholic Charities presentation as $127,000 remains in proposed budget

Bullhead City staff outline multi‑year water, wastewater rate increases and a low‑income discount plan