Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Commission Districts
A Resolution Requesting The Administration Implement Water And Wastewater Service Shutoff Protections And Pause All Payment Plans Issued By The Finance Department During The Interim Period While The Urban League Of Greater Atlanta Is Establishing The DeKalb Customer Advocate's Office.
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Edward C. “Ted” Terry
Phone Number: 404-371-4909
PURPOSE:
A resolution requesting the Administration implement water and wastewater service shutoff protections and pause all payment plans issued by the Finance Department during the interim period while The Urban League Of Greater Atlanta is establishing the DeKalb Customer Advocate's Office.
NEED/IMPACT:
The DeKalb County water and sewer system is a vital public utility, requiring substantial improvements and upgrades to meet federal consent decree obligations and address aging infrastructure. The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners recognizes that while rate increases are critical for long-term sustainability and reliability of water services, they can disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, including seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families. Many seniors and disabled individuals often live on fixed incomes, making it challenging to absorb additional costs associated with essential services like water. Studies have shown that shutoffs and water affordability disproportionately affect Black, low-income, and disabled DeKalb residents. Low-income residents may already face financial hardships that could be exacerbated by increased utility costs, potentially leading to detrimental effects on their health and quality of life. This resolution seeks to protect customers who submitted an application for the DeKalb County Water Rate Assistance Program (WRAP) and a determination of eligibility is pending, currently have a dispute with DeKalb County over water and sewer billing, have a current payment plan with the DeKalb County Finance Department or with the Department of Watershed Management, indicate that the customer or a member of the customer’s household has a significant medical condition, provide verifiable documentation that the customer or a member of the customer’s household is 62 years old or older, has primary custody of a human being not more than 18 years old in residence at the premises, or the customer or a member of the customer’s household is disabled via shut off protections and the pause of all payment plans during the interim period while the Urban League of Greater Atlanta is establishing the DeKalb Customer Advocate's office.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Unknown at this time.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the resolution and authorize the chief executive officer or her designee to execute all necessary documents.