Silverton panel directs staff to draft minimum-payment policy after officials identify nearly $140,000 in overdue utility bills

The Silverton Finance Committee on July 20 directed staff to draft a policy requiring minimum monthly payments for past-due utility accounts after staff told members the town is carrying nearly $140,000 in unpaid water, sewer and refuse charges. Chair said the figure represents roughly 100 accounts and that the committee needs an administrable approach to stop ongoing losses.

"At this point, being almost a $140,000 out on utilities, it's something we probably need to talk about," the Chair said, urging a clear policy rather than the long-standing practice of accepting token payments that leave large balances unpaid. Staff noted one single account in the packet appears to be upwards of $78,000.

Staff recommended a two-tier minimum-payment structure as a pragmatic enforcement tool: accounts with balances under $1,500 would make $300 a month toward past due balances, while accounts above $1,500 would make $750 a month until current. Those figures were described as starting points for committee input rather than a final vote.

Committee members argued for balancing enforcement with hardship protections. Several members supported directing residents who claim financial hardship to the state LEAP program rather than building an in-house hardship program, both to avoid the administrative burden and because state eligibility provides an outside verification mechanism.

"If the state determines they are in need of assistance, then they can pay the bill," one committee member said, summarizing staff recommendations about referrals to LEAP. Committee members also discussed timelines to avoid turning off water in winter and recommended working through the winter with enforcement beginning in spring, if necessary.

Staff also flagged implementation issues that complicate shutoffs in Silverton: many meters are inside residences rather than in pits, and shutoffs can risk frozen or damaged lines in some seasons. That operational constraint helped shape the committee's preference for minimum payments and a firm, administrable policy over case‑by‑case forgiveness.

The committee asked staff to draft a resolution with the staff-recommended minimum payments and related enforcement language and to bring the proposal to the full board. The action recorded in the meeting was consensus direction to draft the policy; no formal vote on the policy was taken at the committee meeting.

Next procedural step: staff will prepare a resolution for consideration by the full Silverton board.