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Urban League and county staff report low assistance uptake, mounting delinquencies and planned outreach for DeKalb water customers
Summary
Urban League and DeKalb County water staff reported program metrics: 99 applications logged through Feb. 28 (presenter cited 85 approvals), hundreds of applicants ineligible under an affordability test, 172 pending due to missing documentation, roughly 2,700 payment plans with high default rates, and an estimated $137.5M outstanding on active accounts; staff cited vendor problems that suppressed disconnection notices and outlined outreach and referral plans.
At a Finance, Audit and Budget Committee meeting chaired by Commissioner Ted Terry, the Urban League and county water staff briefed commissioners on the DeKalb County water‑rate assistance program, program eligibility, outreach and county billing and collections data.
Dorna Wordlin of the Urban League said the organization administers the county’s water and sewer customer advocacy program aimed at low‑ and moderate‑income residents. Wordlin reported, “Through February 28, we have had 99 applications with 85 approvals,” and explained the program uses an affordability index (based on household gross income multiplied and compared to a 4.5% threshold) to determine eligibility. She said many applicants (presenter cited 514 in one slide) were ineligible because their bills already fell below the affordability index; another group (about 126 through February) had…
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