DeKalb to pilot water-debt forgiveness program Aug. 1 aimed at households under 60% AMI

DeKalb County staff presented a new water-debt forgiveness pilot Monday that officials plan to start Aug. 1, offering eligible customers a forgiveness credit after one year of payments.

Director McNabb explained the eligibility and mechanics: household income must be below 60% of area median income to qualify for forgiveness consideration, and customers must sign an installment payment agreement (IPA) and make payments during a 12-month period. “Household income must be less than 60% of AMI,” McNabb told the committee. After the one-year anniversary of qualification, customers will receive a forgiveness credit equal to the payments they made during that 12-month period — a structure staff described repeatedly as a “buy 1, get 1” credit.

McNabb said the Urban League will manage the intake and operational procedures; staff noted the Urban League has completed a standard operating procedure to guide enrollment and service delivery. County staff estimated roughly 831 existing wrap applicants would meet income thresholds and said they have received about 1,100 applications overall, of which approximately 830 were income qualified for forgiveness.

The program does not require additional board action to begin, county staff said. “It doesn't require any specific board action,” CEO Zach Williams told the committee when asked about formal approval. The pilot’s start date is targeted for Aug. 1; forgiveness credits will be applied on the anniversary date after one year of participation.

Commissioners sought fiscal projections and operational details. Staff said they currently have no definitive projections for the program’s total cost because the pilot is new, and they plan to provide an update at a future FAB meeting once enrollment and early performance data are available. McNabb also told the committee that customers on the IPA are protected from shutoff for two months; reconnection after disconnection typically occurs within 1–3 days if payment is made, and reconnection fees are about $45–$50. Staff agreed to explore whether reconnection fees could be applied as credits in specific circumstances.

Staff described additional operational elements: customers need not be uninterrupted in making payments to accrue credit — the credit equals total payments made during the 12-month period — and protections for a “protected group” include an extended period before disconnection. County staff said normal disconnection volumes can range broadly and that starting in August they will ramp back toward normal disconnection operations if customers do not engage.

The committee asked for follow-up reporting: staff agreed to provide a mid-pilot update (three months after launch) and a wrap-up to FAB later in the year to show enrollment, fiscal impacts, and lessons learned.