Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Commission Districts
A Resolution Requesting the Implementation of a Means-Tested Water Bill Amnesty Program for Income-Qualified Customers and Requesting a Targeted Review of Uncollectible Debt in Blighted Condominium Communities
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Edward C. “Ted” Terry
Phone Number: 404-371-4909
PURPOSE:
A resolution requesting the implementation of a means-tested Water Bill Amnesty Program for income-qualified customers and requesting a targeted review of uncollectible debt in blighted condominium communities.
NEED/IMPACT:
DeKalb County is currently faced with over $104 million in unpaid water utility bills, affecting more than 90,000 residential accounts-nearly half of the County’s customer base. This significant level of delinquency is rooted not solely in customer non-payment, but in years of systemic billing failures, inaccurate meter readings, disputed charges, and inadequate customer service infrastructure. Structured water utility amnesty programs implemented in other jurisdictions-including the City of Chicago and New York City-have demonstrated strong outcomes in revenue recovery, reduced shutoffs, and long-term payment compliance. Pairing the launch of the discount program with a complementary amnesty program will help restore trust, reduce barriers to payment, and support financial stability for both customers and the utility.
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.