10878-22 Amending Various Arts, & Sect of Ch. 17 of the SB Municipal Code to Adress Late Fees for City Utility Customers

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Sec. 17-130. Findings and purpose. In order to address the public health obligation to provide affordable water and sewer services to low-income customers, while still maintaining sustainable finances, the City of South Bend will implemented in 2019 a rate-payer funded program to assist low-income customers of the City utilities originally known as the Low Income Customer Assistance Program (LICAP). Since 2019, within the Public Works Department and throughout the City, the program has been referred to simply as the Utility Assistance Program (UAP) which shall be its official name . A charge shall be assessed against every City of South Bend sewer rate-payer in order to provide a LICAP UAP credit for qualifying low-income non-industrial sewer customers. Qualification and verification shall be performed by members of the City's staff or local community action partners, as determined by the City. The credit shall be applied for a period of twelve (12) months with annual renewal possible. This charge is deemed reasonable and necessary for its intended purpose. The rates established in this Article shall remain effective until replaced, amended, or repealed by the South Bend Common Council. (Ord. No. 10688-19 , § I, 10-28-19; Ord. No. 10797-21 , § V, 8-9-21) 2