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Council adopts $20,000 water relief fund as members debate scope while wells face drought stress
Summary
The council approved a $20,000 matching water-relief fund to pair private donations with city funds and referred administration to a nonprofit; the vote drew objections from members who said taxpayer dollars should not subsidize utility bills as staff reported elevated system usage and well-level concerns amid dry conditions.
The Taneytown City Council voted Oct. 8 to create a water relief fund that authorizes up to $20,000 in city matching funds to supplement private donations for assistance to residents who cannot pay water and sewer bills.
Proponents said the program is structured as a matching arrangement and administration would be handled by a third-party nonprofit with experience vetting applicants. The city manager explained the fund "is designed as a matching so that when the private funds come in, that's when we match to to help the fund out." He added implementation will rely on a memorandum of agreement with a…
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