Sanitary Sewer, Garbage Collection
and Storm Water Utility Service Rates for Low-Income Senior Citizens and Low-Income Disabled Citizens
RCW 74.38.070 provides that cities may provide utility services at reduced rates for low income senior citizens or low income disabled citizens; and
The City Council of the City of Longview recognizes the financial hardships placed upon low-income senior citizens and low-income disabled citizens as a result of the increasing costs of necessary utility services provided by the City to all of its citizens; and
The City Council is also cognizant of the financial hardship placed on low-income and disabled transitional housing providers that provide living quarters free of rent;
It is the desire of the City Council to provide for reduced rates to such low-income citizens for sewer, garbage collection and storm water utility services.
1. Definitions:
(a) The term “low-income senior citizen” means a person who is sixty-two (62) years of age or older and whose total income, including that of his or her spouse or co-tenant(s), does not exceed the income limits as shown in the attached table. [The very low (50%) income limits for Cowlitz County established under the Housing and Urban Development Income Limits Documentation System.]
(b) The term “low-income disabled citizen” means (i) a person qualifying for special parking privileges under RCW 46.19.010, (ii) a blind person as defined in RCW 74.18.020, or (iii) a disabled, handicapped or incapacitated person as defined under any other state or federal program, and whose total income, including that of his or her spouse or co-tenant(s), does not exceed the income limits as shown in the attached table. [The very low (50%) income limits for Cowlitz County established under the Housing and Urban Development Income Limits Documentation System.]
(c) The term “income”, or “total income”, means salary, wages, interest, dividends, and other earnings which are reportable for federal income tax purposes, and cash payments such as reimbursements received from pensions, annuities, social security, and public assistance programs. It includes any contributions received from any family member or other person who is domiciled in the same residence as the applicant for reduced utility rates hereunder and who is helping defray such applicant’s living costs.
2. Reduced Rates For Low-Income Senior Citizens And Low-Income Disabled Citizens:
Any low-income senior citizen or low-income disabled citizen who receives sanitary sewer, garbage collection and/or storm water utility service from the City of Longview shall be entitled to receive such sanitary sewer service, garbage collection and/or storm water sewer service at the following reduced rates:
(a) Sanitary Sewer Service:
A reduction, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the base residential rate may be allowed.
(b) Garbage Collection Service:
A reduction, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the single family dwelling residential rate for once per week garbage collection and recycling service may be allowed.
(c) Storm Water Utility Service:
No charge shall be made to those persons whose applications are approved for reduced rates for sanitary sewer and/or garbage collection service.
(d) Transitional Housing Provider – Sanitary Sewer Service:
In addition, to the reduced rates provided in Section 2 (a) through 2 (c) above, transitional housing providers shall receive a twenty-five percent (25%) reduction on sanitary sewer consumption charges.
3. Applications for Reduced Rates:
Applications for reduced utility rates hereunder shall be made upon forms to be provided by the Finance Department of the City, and shall disclose all sources of income as required by such forms. Transitional housing providers are asked to provide income received from grants, contributions, etc. Such applications and the contents thereof shall remain confidential to the extent permitted by law. Any person who is aggrieved by the denial of reduced utility rates as herein provided may appeal such denial to the City Manager, whose decision with respect thereto shall be final.
4. Disqualification for Reductions:
An applicant who ceases to meet the qualifications of the Utility Rate Relief Program as provided in this Resolution shall advise the City of Longview Finance Department within thirty (30) days after having become so disqualified.
5. Annual Reports Required:
All applicants who have been granted reduced utility rates hereunder shall, as a condition of continued entitlement to reduced rates, resubmit every other year, beginning with the odd year, upon forms provided by the Finance Department on verification of their income. To qualify an applicant’s income shall remain at or below the levels described in the attached table. Annual reports are not required for transitional housing providers so long as they continue to provide living quarters free of rent.
6. Annual Maximum Amount of Reductions:
No reduction in rates shall be permitted or granted if the effect thereof will be to reduce the aggregate gross income from sanitary sewer service, garbage collection and storm water utility service during any calendar year by more than approximately $220,000.00.
7. Effective Date:
This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after June 11, 2020.
Resolution No. 2304 passed by the City Council on July 15, 2019 is hereby repealed in its entirety on the date that this Resolution becomes effective.
|
Persons in Household |
2020 Income Limit |
2019 Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
$24,250 |
$23,950 |
|
2 |
$27,700 |
$27,350 |
|
3 |
$31,150 |
$30,750 |
|
4 |
$34,600 |
$34,150 |
|
5+ |
$37,400 |
$36,900 |
(Res. 2328, 2020).