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Commission hears collection shortfalls; tax‑intercept yields 56% so far, water disconnect success mixed
Summary
Staff told commissioners that tax‑refund intercepts have recovered funds for about 56% of accounts sent, while standard disconnects this year resulted in full payments for roughly 40% of accounts (about 60% made partial payments); remaining eligible accounts will return to collection and some will face March disconnects.
The Water Works & Mining Commission reviewed customer‑account collection results and a forthcoming round of water disconnects, with staff reporting mixed success for recovery programs and plans to return remaining eligible accounts to collection.
The customer support supervisor said commission staff had recovered funds from about 56% of accounts submitted to the Department of Revenue tax‑refund intercept program, and that additional receipts arrived in recent weeks. “We’re up to about 56%,” the supervisor said, noting that the rate had increased but was lower than staff hoped.
On traditional disconnects, staff reported only about 40% of accounts paid their full past‑due balance this year and roughly 60% made partial payments. The supervisor said some commercial accounts affected the totals and that staff are reviewing procedural tweaks for next year to improve recovery.
Staff told commissioners that accounts not recovered through the tax‑intercept process will be returned to active collection and those that remain unpaid are scheduled for water disconnects in March. Commissioners discussed enforcement steps and the practical difficulty of preventing former occupants from re‑entering disconnected properties; staff said they coordinate with city code enforcement and police when necessary.
What happens next: staff will resume disconnects in March for accounts that did not yield funds through the tax‑intercept program and will continue coordination with the city on properties that appear occupied despite disconnection notices.
