Stormwater Utility Low Inc SubsMEMORANDUM
July 2, 2003
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Low Income Stormwater Subsidy
Assistant City Engineer Gus Psihoyos and the Stormwater Utility Implementation
Committee are recommending that the City use the same low-income subsidy criteria
for the Stormwater Utility that is used for Utility Billing for refuse subsidies.
Under refuse criteria, a person who meets Section 8 requirements, which is where the
person's income is 50% or less of the medium income for Dubuque County, would be
given a 50% subsidy toward the Stormwater Utility fee.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
Mike Koch, Public Works Director
MEMORANDUM
June 30, 2003
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
SUBJECT: Low Income Stormwater Subsidy
As you know our first stormwater utility bills will be going out in July. As we go through
the final details on implementing the stormwater utility, the subsidy policy for Iow-income
residents needs to be clarified.
You recommended in the Fiscal Year 2004 budget transmittal letter to the City Council
that "low-income residents be given up to a 50% subsidy" for their stormwater utility bill.
To honor that recommendation the stormwater utility implementation committee's
recommendation is to use the same criteria that were set forth by Utility Billing for refuse
subsidies.
Under refuse cdteda, a person who meets Section 8 requirements, which is where the
person's income is 50% or less of the medium income for Dubuque County, would be
given a 50% subsidy toward the stormwater utility fee. Because the subsidy criteria are
based on annual income, a person must apply every year. Applications are reviewed
the first of every fiscal year by Utility Billing staff.
There are 297 people who have applied for and are currently taking advantage of the
refuse subsidy. We recommend that these same people automatically be given the
stormwater utility subsidy.
Under the current fiscal year budget we budgeted $10,000 for the low-income subsidy.
If 300 people apply, based on our current $1.29 rate, the subsidy would require
approximately $2,300 for FY04. If the rate would go to $1.79, the subsidy would require
approximately $3,200.
If you have any questions or need further clarification on this intended policy, please
CC:
Michael A. Koch, Public Works Director
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Deron Muehdng, Civil Engineer
Ken TeKippe, Finance Director
David Harris, Housing/Com. Dev. Director
Marge Schemmel, Utility Billing