City of Tumwater Finance Director Troy Niemeyer told the Public Works Committee on Thursday, Feb. 6, that staffers have identified 294 households that are qualified to join a life-line program.
The program provides low-income seniors and disabled individuals with a 50% discount on their utility bills.
There are already 190 people participating in the program. During budget discussions last year, city staff previously told the Tumwater City Council that number was 110.
Staff identified the additional households by reviewing county data for a similar program, in which low-income seniors and disabled people receive discounts on their property taxes.
As such, City Administrator Lisa Parks noted the households they identified only included property owners.
According to Parks, owners of manufactured homes may be included in the city’s count, as there are instances when individual manufactured homes are taxed as personal property.
If the city integrates all the additional qualified households, it would have to spend $252,000 a year to support the additional beneficiaries.
The committee also discussed a modeling tool developed by a contractor, Carollo Engineers, to help the city calculate how much it would need to increase its utility rates over the years to pay for operating costs and new facilities while maintaining its reserve fund.
Parks said the tool would help them determine how best to accomplish their goals, including the funding of the lifeline program.
Niemeyer said that they plan to mail the qualified households instructions on how to sign up for the program.
More information about the program is available on the city’s website.
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