Hollister
– As promised, the City Council approved sewer-rate discounts
for low-income seniors.
Hollister – As promised, the City Council approved sewer-rate discounts for low-income seniors.
“This is something we have to do,” Councilman Doug Emerson said at Monday’s council meeting.
The city will subsidize the 25 percent discount through its general fund. Councilwoman Monica Johnson said that although she supports the resolution, she is worried that in a few years the city’s financial woes will prevent it from continuing the program.
City staff estimates that up to 500 people will get discounted sewer bills. City Manager Clint Quilter said subsidizing the discount will cost the city up to $70,000 during the program’s first year.
Seniors receiving the discount will typically pay $34.74 per month through fiscal year 2006-2007, compared to $46.33 for a regular single-family residential hookup.
The discount will take effect on Dec. 1, when single-family sewer rates jump from the current $31.30 a month. The city plans to incrementally increase sewer rates over the next four years.
Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia, who is executive director of local senior center Jovenes de Antaño, said the discounts will make a big difference.
“It was very difficult for me to agree with the sewer rates,” Valdivia said. She added that the discounts “will help (low-income seniors) tremendously.”
However, Valdivia ack-nowledged that even with the discount, some seniors – and other community members – on fixed incomes will have a hard time paying.
“I think it’s going to affect them, but not as bad as if they pay the full rate,” she said.
Valdivia added that in order to pay the bills, seniors may cut other parts of their budgets.
“They’ll pay their PG&E, they’ll pay their water bills, but they’ll cut down on food, they’ll cut down on their medication, and that’s really bad,” she said.
The City Council approved a sewer rate increase earlier this year to fund construction of the new wastewater treatment plant. The costs for the plant will covered by both the rate hike and increased impact fees for new developments.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at (831) 637-5566 ext. 330 or
ah*@fr***********.com
.
