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Council considers reestablishing Yakima County Credit Services account for utility debt collection
Summary
Staff recommended reactivating an account with Yakima County Credit Services to pursue debts (for example, unpaid utility bills) that cannot be collected locally; council asked about impacts on shutoffs, payment plans and who pays collection fees.
Staff told council the city previously used Yakima County Credit Services (YCCS) for tickets and collection work and recommended reestablishing an account so the city can refer unpaid utility accounts that cannot be collected locally. The item was described as administrative reactivation of a previously used account, not an immediate program change.
Council members pressed for details about how collection interacts with water shutoffs and dispute processes. A council member asked, "If this affects water bills, and let's say that it does go to the credit, then what? The water gets shut off until that debt is paid off in full?" Staff replied that payment plans and dispute processes exist, staff review bills and the city offers options to avoid shutoffs in certain circumstances; staff also said collection fees are paid by the debtor, not by the city. The item drew procedural questions about timing and when the city would refer accounts to collections; staff noted reactivating YCCS would allow the city to send accounts it cannot otherwise collect.
