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Council directs step‑down plan for utility assistance after staff reports program success and limited remaining funds
Summary
City staff reported the utility‑assistance program aided over 600 customers and has about $85,000 remaining; council directed staff to return with a resolution to stop taking new applicants and a step‑down plan to spend remaining funds over a defined period while notifying customers.
Assistant City Manager Neda Wacker updated the council on Lincoln’s utility‑assistance program, which was created in September 2023 to help low‑income customers adjust to rate increases. Wacker said the program has helped more than 600 customers but funding was running low — roughly $85,000 remained as of July — and July payouts were about $13,009.
Council members discussed whether the program should be ongoing or a gap program that expires. Several council members favored extending remaining funds with a clear end date and a step‑down plan so customers are not surprised by an abrupt cutoff. Staff said they hold about $600,000 in unallocated ARPA funds (separate from the program balance) and that the council could consider additional allocations later, but emphasized that any extension needs an explicit council direction and a date‑certain end to avoid running out of funds without notice.
By consensus, council asked staff to return at the next meeting with a resolution that would close enrollment (no new applicants) and present a step‑down schedule for payments using the remaining funds, including communications to customers about an upcoming program end date.
