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Small landlord and water agencies clash over proposed changes to tenant utility billing in SB118
Summary
At a Senate Local Government Committee hearing, small housing provider Tisha Lee described unpaid tenant water liens that were certified as property tax assessments and urged reforms; water-system representatives warned that the bill in its current form could be unworkable and raise rates for millions and proposed mutual-notification and capped-liability compromises.
Tisha Lee, a small housing provider and community developer from Columbus, told the Senate Local Government Committee that current water utility assessment rules sometimes leave property owners responsible for unpaid tenant water and sewer bills, which can be certified as special assessments on property taxes. Lee said tenants left two properties with unpaid utility bills, including one instance that produced a bill exceeding $1,000, and that she discovered the charge only after it was certified to her tax bill. "I can't afford to feed my own children," Lee said, describing how unexpected assessments force her to choose between household bills and covering others' debts.
Lee asked lawmakers for reforms to how water and wastewater utilities bill customers: bill utility service directly to the user when possible; prohibit automatic tax assessments against…
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