$4 Million Stimulus For Old Utility Expenses, Taxes 28 More Households
$4 million in American Rescue Plan money was used by Spokane City to remove past-due utility bills for consumers experiencing financial difficulties.
More than 8,600 city citizens did not pay their utility bills, collectively owing about an amount of $8 million, based on a report from the Administration of Mayor Nadine Woodward.
According to a published post by Local Today, the utility bill proposal was voted against by Michael Cathcart and Jonathan Bingle because of the inclusion of a secondary issue.
The Spokane City Council is using $4 million in Bailout Fund funds to pay off overdue utility bills for customers struggling financially. (Photo: Local Today)
$4 Million Used By Spokane For Old Utility Expenses, Taxes For More Than 25 Households
Jonathan Bingle noted that the issue has been clashing, the Spokane County and Spokane Valley authorities lobbied state legislators in the past to copy a law blocking Spokane from allocating tax.
The wastewater tax was filed in 1998, however, it has never been applied to the Spokane County Regional Water Reclamation Facility, which opened in the year 2011, located at Freya Street.
The tax will be applied on the 28 properties in the first month of the year, January. The mid-homeowners bill for wastewater services is expected to go up by more than $12 per month.
Al French, Spokane County Commissioner said that it is a reasonable approach and probably as good as you can receive.
