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Council backs lifeline wastewater discount and raises new-account deposits
Summary
Council approved introducing an ordinance to replace the existing $12.06 water discount with a wastewater lifeline discount (approx. $22.46) funded from utility interest revenue and voted to raise water deposits for new accounts by $50 to $100.
The council unanimously approved staff’s recommendation to expand the city’s lifeline utility program by replacing the current $12.06 monthly water discount with a wastewater discount applied to qualifying single‑family residential accounts. Finance Director Martha Garcia told the council staff analyzed prior‑year interest revenue and determined the wastewater fund could sustainably support a larger, flat discount for income‑qualified participants.
Garcia said the proposal would align the lifeline benefit to the flat wastewater charge (currently cited at $22.46) and estimated the expanded program would cost roughly $180,000 for a full fiscal year if fully utilized. Council members pressed staff on fund sources and contingency plans: staff said the discount would be paid from interest revenue in the wastewater fund and that if revenue fell short in future years, council would revisit discount levels rather than closing eligible accounts.
On a separate but related action, the council approved increasing the required water deposit for new accounts by $50—bringing a single‑family deposit to $100—to better reflect current service costs and to help cover final month charges for departing customers. The change applies to new accounts only. The motions to introduce the ordinance and adopt the related resolutions passed on unanimous votes; staff will return with ordinance language and implementation details.
