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Council asks staff to keep exploring a pilot utility-rate assistance program for low-income customers
Summary
After a staff presentation, the Santa Paula City Council asked staff to continue researching a mixed funding pilot — using penalty revenues, voluntary bill round-ups, donations and grants — and report back with estimates and staffing needs before implementation.
City staff presented policy options on April 2 for a utility-rate assistance program to help low-income water and sewer customers and asked the council whether to proceed with further research. Staff urged council guidance on funding sources and program scope.
Senior analyst Mirka Vargas summarized models used in nearby cities (Ventura, Camarillo, Oxnard and Thousand Oaks). Those programs usually provide small monthly bill credits ($10–$25) and are commonly funded from late-penalty revenues, voter assessments, donations (including customer bill round-ups) or outside grants. Vargas told the council Santa Paula collected about…
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