Hollister
– City officials have announced the formation of a new program
that would subsidize sewer rates for low-income senior citizens if
Hollister installs new rates across the board this fall.
Hollister – City officials have announced the formation of a new program that would subsidize sewer rates for low-income senior citizens if Hollister installs new rates across the board this fall.
“This is something we wanted to get on the books before we look at the new rates at our next meeting on September 5,” City Councilman Doug Emerson said.
The program would provide low-income seniors older than 60 with a 25 percent discount on their sewer bills when compared to a typical single-family residence. Council members agreed to the subsidy at their Monday night meeting.
“We’ve had a lot of meetings about sewer rates, and one thing we heard over and over again was a need for something like this,” Emerson said.
According to projections provided by the city, seniors receiving the discount will typically pay $34.74 throughout fiscal year 2006/07, compared to $46.33 for a regular single-family residential hookup. The rates will increase each year, and by FY2010/11 a senior receiving the discount will pay $53.63 compared to a single family paying $71.50.
The council considered a number of factors before deciding which residents to give assistance to, and determined that the community’s seniors were those most in need of the help.
“We’re looking at people who are living on a fixed income, who can’t look forward to working in a better job or higher-paying position five or 10 years down the line,” Emerson said. “And we have an obligation to take care of them.”
The city will offer the discount to seniors older than 60 whose income qualifies them for the Lifeline program through PG&E on their energy bills.
“We think this will serve about 500 people, maximum,” City Manager Clint Quilter said. “But we don’t know for sure. It might be less than that.”
If the city winds up subsidizing bills for fewer seniors than officials anticipate, it is possible that the city will open up discount opportunities to other groups, such as low-income families with children.
“We just have to wait and see what happens,” Emerson said. “But hopefully we can open this up to other folks as well.”
The discounts would be subsidized with money from Hollister’s general fund. Officials anticipate it would cost the city about $70,000 in FY2006/07 and no more than $107,000 after 2009.
In the past, similar subsidies were available, but were funded through fees paid by other households on their sewer bills. A recent court ruling, however, prohibited this practice.
“We’ve had similar programs before,” Quilter said. “But this is the first time the city has used general fund money to pay for it.”
Council members encourage their constituents to attend the Sept. 5 meeting and to inquire about the new discount program if they feel they qualify for it.
“I hope that the community really watches the council meetings, especially the one on the fifth, and gets informed about the issue,” Emerson said. “And if they have any questions they should go their city council member.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
