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Utility office reports improved collections, new customer outreach and $9.4M receipts since July 1
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Summary
The utility office reported increased collections and new tools for delinquent accounts: 1,440 red tags issued year-to-date (down from 2,400), $18,000 in active payment arrangements, text-to-pay and email billing, and about $9.4 million collected since July 1; staff also flagged postage and certified-mail costs as budget pressure.
Sonia, the utility-office representative, told the commission the office has reduced shutoff notices and expanded collection tools while handling growth in customer accounts.
Sonia reported that 1,440 red-tag notices have been issued so far this year (versus 2,400 in the prior comparable period), active payment arrangements currently total about $18,000 and the office has piloted text-to-pay and emailed delinquent notices to give customers more time to respond. She said the utility is now sending more certified notices and that certified-mail costs (for public-hearing notices, planning-and-zoning mailings and some returned envelopes) account for a substantial portion of the postage line.
Sonia gave operational figures: roughly 4,200 customers (about 3,900 residential and small commercial plus 120 large commercial), 254 new deposits since July 1, 127,906 utility bills issued since July 1 and approximately $9.4 million in payments received in the same period (checks, cash, credit). Staff also reported $52,000 in new deposits taken during the period.
Why it matters: The presentation highlighted tools to reduce delinquencies (pre-tag outreach calls, payment plans, and auto bank draft options) and the budget pressure created by certified-mail requirements tied to public notices. Commissioners asked about reducing postage by expanding electronic billing; staff noted some notices must be certified and that planning-and-zoning hearing postage is currently charged to the utility account.
Next steps: Staff said it will coordinate with IT and the city manager to explore additional electronic-billing uptake, refine postage estimates in the budget, and continue work to identify account addresses through the new business-license module to capture short-term rentals.
