Chapter 3.80
PRIORITY OF PAYMENTS TO CITY UTILITY ACCOUNTS

Sections:

3.80.010    Priority of payments to city utility accounts.

3.80.020    Collection of delinquent utility accounts.

3.80.030    Write-off of delinquent accounts.

3.80.010 Priority of payments to city utility accounts.

Payments received by the city shall be applied in the following order of priority:

A.    Outstanding late charges (penalties and costs of collection);

B.    Outstanding interest;

C.    Utility taxes;

D.    Solid waste charges;

E.    Stormwater utility charges;

F.    Sewer charges. (Ord. 2008-22 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1775-13 § 1, 2013)

3.80.020 Collection of delinquent utility accounts.

A.    The finance director, or his or her designee, is hereby authorized to assign debts owed to the city to a collection agency for the collection thereof. In all instances where a debt is so assigned, all reasonable costs involved in the collection of the debt through use of the collection agency are costs that shall be added to and included in the debt to be paid by the debtor. As used in this chapter, debts owed to the city include, but are not limited to, the following: past due utility accounts, fines, assessments, taxes, permit and license fees and charges, notes and contracts receivable, miscellaneous billings, penalties, interest, and any other charge or account receivable of whatsoever nature legally imposed by or owing to the city.

B.    Whenever this code or an ordinance or regulation of the city provides that a person is to pay a certain fee or charge, in the event of nonpayment for thirty days after the amount is due and owing, such person shall also pay the city’s reasonable costs of collection and ten percent per annum interest on the delinquent amount. The collection costs and interest will be added to the original amount due which will not be considered paid until the new total is paid in full.

C.    Accounts referred to collection shall be only after written notice has been given to the account holder at his/her last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested, and by regular mail, postage prepaid thirty days in advance of the referral to collection. (Ord. 2008-22 § 1, 2022)

3.80.030 Write-off of delinquent accounts.

The finance director, or designee, shall have the authority to write off any utility account debt that is over two years old in an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars per account. This write-off option shall be utilized only after it has been determined by the finance director or designee that there is no cost-effective means of collecting the account and a collection agency has been unsuccessful in collecting the debt. (Ord. 2008-22 § 1, 2022)