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DeKalb plans Aug. 1 start for water-debt forgiveness pilot that matches year payments
Summary
County staff outlined a pilot where eligible customers (household income under 60% AMI) who sign installment agreements receive a forgiveness credit equal to the payments made in the first year; staff set an Aug. 1 start, named the Urban League as an intake partner, and said they will report back to the board.
DeKalb County staff presented a water-debt forgiveness pilot intended to help customers with outstanding water bills and to encourage on‑time payments. Director/CFO McNabb described eligibility and mechanics: households with income below 60% of area median income (AMI) are eligible; customers must sign an installment payment agreement (IPA); on the one‑year anniversary of qualification the county will credit to a customer an amount equal to the payments they made during that year (described in the presentation as a "buy one, get one" credit).
McNabb said staff have identified roughly 830 applicants who would qualify on income now based on previously submitted wrap applications and that the Urban League has developed a standard operating procedure to assist with intake and counseling. Staff identified August 1 as the target start date for program intake and said credits would be applied on the one‑year anniversary of each qualifying customer’s enrollment.
Enrollment mechanics and protections: McNabb said the program does not require customers to already be enrolled in the wrap discount program; they must enroll in an IPA and staff will provide counseling through the Urban League. Staff said participants receive limited protection from shutoff while making payments (protection against shutdown for approximately two months under the proposed approach), but the forgiveness credit is applied only after one year of recorded payments. Commissioners asked for projections on likely fiscal impact; staff said there are no reliable projections because the program is new but agreed to provide regular updates and a status report to the full board in November.
Operational details commissioners asked staff to clarify included reconnection procedures (staff aim to reconnect service the same day if payment arrives before noon, with a 72‑hour SLA in busier periods) and reconnection fees (about $45–$50). Staff agreed to evaluate whether reconnection fees could be credited or partly forgiven for pilot participants.
Why it matters: The program aims to reduce long-term debt while creating an incentive for customers to engage with payment plans. Staff said it does not require further board action to begin and will be funded from existing enterprise/watershed funds; staff also said disconnection activity will be ramped up to encourage enrollment where appropriate. Commissioners requested fiscal updates and requested information on how many and which customers apply and benefit.
