Salinas finance committee recommends 15% sewer-bill assistance for year 1, sends resolution to council

The Salinas Finance Committee voted unanimously on Sept. 9 to recommend the City Council adopt a resolution establishing a residential sewer payment assistance program at 15% for the program’s first year, with the finance department administering applications and a target implementation in November.

City staff presented the program as a response to concerns raised during a recent sewer rate study and compared local approaches, saying many jurisdictions offer assistance ranging from 15% to 50% of bills. Adriana, a staff member who presented the proposal, summarized the program and the rationale for eligibility: “If you qualify for CARE, then you qualify for our program,” she said, referring to the federal-state energy discount program administered by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).

The presentation noted staff initially recommended a 20% assistance level, calculated by multiplying a customer’s bimonthly sewer bill by six to get an annual amount and then applying the percentage. At 20%, staff estimated the program could assist about 3,822 customers; the PG&E CARE program reportedly includes more than 20,000 Salinas customers, which staff said exceeds the city’s funding capacity. Staff said the city would use CARE enrollment as an eligibility screen and would exclude customers who already receive the city’s existing affordable-income utility voucher program because that program already covers sewer for its participants.

Committee members discussed trade-offs between deeper assistance for fewer households versus shallower assistance for more households. Councilmember Margaret asked whether the council should choose 15% or 20% given the difference in reach; Adriana said the difference equates to an annual assistance of “just under $40 versus $30,” and that staff selected 20% originally as a balance between reach and impact. Celine Andrews, the city’s finance director, said the city would absorb administration costs to start the program and that staff were prepared to accept and review applications. Andrews also confirmed a rapid timeline: staff aimed to begin accepting applications in November.

After discussion, a committee motion to recommend approval of the resolution at 15% for year one — with future adjustments possible — was made and seconded. The committee called for the question and voted; Councilmember D'Arrigo voted “aye,” Councilmember De La Rosa voted “aye,” and Mayor Donahue voted “aye.” The committee forwarded the recommendation to the full City Council.

Staff told the committee the first-year estimate of households served is an educated projection and that program parameters could be adjusted after the first year once actual application numbers and fiscal impacts are known. Staff also flagged the need to avoid drawing on the general fund and to protect obligations to bondholders when designing program funding.

Votes at a glance: the committee approved (1) the minutes for Aug. 12, 2025 (Agenda ID 25-379) and (2) the recommendation to the City Council to adopt a residential sewer payment assistance resolution at 15% for year one. Both motions passed unanimously.

The committee said it will return to the subject if needed and reconvened next on Oct. 7. The recommendation now goes to the full City Council for final approval.