Gulfport council temporarily waives November water late fees amid federal shutdown

Gulfports City Council on Tuesday adopted a temporary ordinance to suspend assessment of late fees on water bills issued in November, aiming to help residents affected by the federal government shutdown.

Councilwoman Hines introduced the measure and framed it as short-term relief for families facing furloughs and benefit interruptions. "We have family member right now that we are my family, member is assisting because they don't get very much," she said in remarks urging support for the moratorium.

City attorney Jeff Bruni explained how the ordinance would operate: "The ordinance we've got here is to institute a temporary moratorium on the assessment of late fee on any water bill issued out of the month of November," he said. He noted the water-bill cycles fall on different dates and the moratorium would be evenly applied to all bills issued in November.

Staff provided financial context: officials estimate late-fee revenue averaged about $132,000 last month, which the city would forgo if the suspension were in effect for a full month. Council members debated the fiscal limits of a waiver and emphasized the measure is intended as a one-time, 30-day action rather than a permanent policy change.

Council members and the mayor voiced support for the short-term measure as an emergency response: the council approved the moratorium by voice vote and the mayor signaled support, while staff agreed to provide council members additional data on recent late-fee totals.

What happens next: the moratorium applies to water-bill cycles issued in November; staff will provide a three-month late-fee breakdown to council members for further review and to inform any future decisions.