SYRACUSE — People late in paying their utility bills will not be cut any slack, according to city officials.
In an effort to reduce a growing problem, city leaders formally implemented a $10 fine in February on residents whose utility bills are 10 days past due. Officials said approximately 9.3 percent of the city’s utility users were at least one month late in paying their bill.
Councilwoman Karianne Lisonbee asked officials to consider the potential for a hardship waiver in some of the cases. After extensive discussion, officials said they will wait at least six months to reconsider any waiver.
The late fee has been on the books, but city officials have not enforced the fine until now.
Stephen Marshall, the city’s budget director, said the city assessed a late fee for 759 accounts this month. He said the city extended the grace period before assessing the charge.
Lisonbee expressed concern about people who are unemployed or on fixed incomes and the impact the late fee might have on them. She initially suggested the late fee shouldn’t be implemented until a bill was two months late, thereby giving them some leeway to meet their commitment.
City Manager Robert Rice said the intent of the fee is not to generate revenue but to reduce the number of people who are delinquent in addressing their bill.
“The worst day around this building is the day we go to shut off utilities. It’s hectic. It means people are behind two months. We want to get out of that business,” Rice said. “I’d be tickled pink if we got down to zero, that we collected no late fee. We wouldn’t have to shut off water. We don’t want to be in that business,” he added.
Mayor Jamie Nagle noted that city leaders addressed a problem last year in which some developers were late paying property taxes, in essence using the city as a bank.
She said allowing people to be delinquent on water bills follows the same principle.
She said there are government programs, like the heating energy assistance program (HEAP), for residents in need.
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