Finance committee backs City of Salinas sewer payment assistance program at 15% for year one

The Salinas Finance Committee on Sept. 9 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution establishing a residential sewer payment assistance program and setting the program at 15% of an annual sewer bill for year one.

City staff presented the proposal as a targeted, short-term assistance program tied to the PG&E CARE eligibility list and the city’s upcoming sewer rate changes. "What we're proposing is 20%," the presenting staff member, Adriana (staff member), said during the presentation while explaining the team's analysis of other jurisdictions; however, the committee voted to recommend a 15% level for the first year.

Committee members and staff said the program is meant to balance breadth of assistance with available funds. Adriana told the committee that staff reviewed other cities and that assistance programs typically ranged from 15% to 50% of a sewer bill, and that the team's original recommendation had been 20% because it would reach an…