DeKalb committee approves substitute amnesty resolution, moves to codify water rate timing and authorizes bond issuance up to $450 million

DeKalb County’s Finance, Audit and Budget Committee approved a substitute resolution to develop a means‑tested water bill amnesty program for income‑qualified customers and requested a targeted review of uncollectible debt in blighted condominium communities. The committee also agreed to formally set a new target date to begin a previously approved water and sewer rate increase and authorized the issuance of water and sewer revenue bonds to fund system priorities.

Attorney Kevin Welch (law department) reviewed edits to the original draft, saying the redlined version removed named condominium complexes and added duties for the county’s newly created water and sewer customer advocate to work with finance and administration in designing the program. "We worked from the red line that you provided in committee last week where the names of the particular condominium complexes that were originally included were removed," he said, and noted the resolution ties the amnesty program’s launch to phase 1 or phase 2 of the Urban League contract discussed earlier.

Why it matters: The resolution directs staff to develop amnesty‑program parameters that consider how to handle delinquencies tied to multifamily properties and single‑family properties held by corporate entities, and to recommend an appropriate program duration or sunset clause. The committee requested an update before a planned Sept. 2 implementation date; the law department added an August 26 target for a presentation to the full board to allow consideration before the September target.

Rate timing: County officials said they delayed the public rollout of a previously approved rate increase on July 1 to align the increase with customer assistance program availability. The committee approved a friendly amendment to set the implementation date as Aug. 15 (rather than Aug. 1) so the county’s special‑call schedule and bond timing could be accommodated.

Revenue bonds: The committee approved a resolution to authorize issuance of water and sewer revenue bonds, series 2025A, for an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $450 million. Director Diane McNabb explained that the resolution will be completed on Aug. 12 with the purchaser and interest rates filled after the county receives competitive bids that morning; the board will receive a substitute document on Aug. 12 with the blanks completed and then award the bonds the same day.

What the committee asked staff to do: Committee members asked the law department, finance and the water and sewer customer advocate to develop program parameters that include (1) options for addressing delinquencies tied to multifamily and condominium ownership structures, (2) how to treat corporate ownership of single‑family properties, and (3) an appropriate program timeframe or sunset. County staff were asked to deliver the August 26 presentation and prepare the bond documents and bid process for the Aug. 12 board action.

Ending: The committee approved the substitute amnesty resolution and the bond authorization during the meeting and codified the adjusted Aug. 15 start date for the rate increase; final bond terms will be set after competitive bids on Aug. 12.