Council funds $100,000 customer assistance program for water, sewer and storm bills

The Toledo City Council on July 15 approved Ordinance 3-45-25, establishing a customer assistance grant program funded by transfers from replacement funds and operating fund expenditures to help low-income customers facing possible shutoffs.

Councilman Martinez, who introduced the measure and described it as a one-time grant program to assist low-income residents at risk of water shutoff, said the item responded to concerns raised during earlier hearings about customers behind on utility bills. "This will help low income individuals who are on the verge of shutoff. This will be a one time, a grant to help them get caught up," Martinez said.

The ordinance authorized appropriation of $45,000 from the unappropriated balance of the water replacement fund with an operating transfer into the water operating fund, $50,000 from the sewer replacement fund with an operating transfer into the sewer operating fund, and $5,000 from the stormwater replacement fund with an operating transfer into the stormwater operating fund. It also authorized corresponding expenditures not to exceed those amounts to fund the customer assistance grant program.

Council members moved the ordinance for immediate consideration and recorded passage by roll call during the meeting. The clerk recorded the votes and declared the ordinance passed as an emergency.

The transcript shows council discussion framing the measure as an additional tool to prevent shutoffs; the ordinance does not specify program eligibility rules or application procedures on the council floor. Administrative departments (Department of Public Utilities and Finance) will implement the program under the ordinance’s appropriation and reporting requirements.