Share this post or save for later
As the Lawrence City Commission is set to consider increasing rates that residents pay for stormwater and solid waste, members of the Affordable Housing Advisory Board are advocating for utility payment plans.
Commissioners on Tuesday will hear from city staff members about proposed increases for stormwater and solid waste rates.
Advertisem*nt
City utility bills also include water and sewer, but no increases to those rates are included on Tuesday’s agenda.
If approved, average residential stormwater rates would increase to $7.94 from $7.38, about a 7.9% increase.
Residential solid waste rates for both single-family and multifamily homes would increase by $1.34, or 6.5%; commercial rates would increase by 12.5%, with exact costs varying by size of the trash container, according to the agenda.
Update:
•
Lawrence City Commission approves stormwater, solid waste rate increases, Dec. 12, 2023
“The model increases rates on Commercial, Downtown and Roll-off services to address the actual costs to provide these services. Single-family and multi-family rates have been offsetting the costs for these service lines,” according to the agenda item. “The proposed rate increases ultimately balance the inequity between residential and commercial charges for service.”
The city anticipated the additional revenues from increased rates as part of the 2024 budget process. The stormwater rate increase will bring the city an additional $451,090 in revenue, and the solid waste rate increase will bring in an extra $1.1 million, according to the agenda items.
“The recommended rate increases do not cover all operating costs in 2024,” according to the agenda item on solid waste rates. “Projections show a planned use of about $570,000 in fund balance to hold rate increases as low as possible.”
If approved, rate increases will become effective Jan. 1.
The city’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board met Monday and discussed signing a letter in support of the city creating utility payment plans so that residents experiencing financial difficulties can have options rather than risk getting their water shut off or other outcomes if they can’t pay.
The letter was a request from the Douglas County Housing Stabilization Collaborative, which helps local residents with temporary rent and utility assistance.
AHAB members voiced support of the idea, and they noted that nearby cities and private utilities such as Evergy and Black Hills provide different options to help people pay their bills as they’re able to.
Overdue utility payments can also contribute to people being unable to secure housing. AHAB member Shannon Oury, CEO of the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, said people sometimes aren’t able to sign leases because they aren’t able to get the utilities turned on if they still owe the city for past utility bills.
“I don’t advocate not requiring people to pay, but I do advocate methods that allow low-income people to afford it and to make payments and to get back on their feet when they run into issues,” Oury said.
AHAB member Sarah Waters said she supported payment plans being available to everybody because they help to control expenses, and because unexpected things can happen that make people in any financial circ*mstances unable to pay a bill.
Advertisem*nt
City staff members have said previously that they do not have the capacity to create, implement and manage similar programs. Currently, the only Lawrence residents who can receive reduced utility rates from the city are qualifying seniors who have low incomes.
AHAB board members voted to approve signing the letter of support. (The letter, which was drafted prior to the most recent commission meeting, will be updated to reflect that Bart Littlejohn is now mayor. It will not likely be added to this week’s City Commission agenda.)
Lawrence city commissioners will being their regular meeting at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12 at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St., to discuss the planned rate increases and the rest of their agenda. Meetings are open to the public and livestreamed on the city’s YouTube page, youtube.com/@lawrenceksvideo.
The meeting will start at 5 p.m. with a 30-minute executive session, or closed-door meeting, for commissioners to have an attorney-client privileged discussion on pending litigation and claims.
People may submit written comments to the commissioners until noon the day of the meeting by emailing ccagendas@lawrenceks.org. People may also give public comment in person or via Zoom during the meetings; register for Tuesday’s Zoom meeting at this link.
If our local journalism matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat … Click here to sign up for our email newsletters
Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
Latest Lawrence news:
Lawrence news
Person injured in 3-vehicle crash on K-10
by Lawrence Times
Share this post or save for later
The driver of one vehicle involved in a three-vehicle crash on K-10 was taken to the hospital Sunday morning, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
KU student creates mural for Lawrence Gymnastics Academy preschoolers
by Maya Hodison
Share this post or save for later
Artist and KU student Caitlyn Howard says she drew too big as a kid. But that came in handy when she created her first mural, in Lawrence Gymnastics Academy’s preschool room.
Business
Black:30, Douglas County CORE roll out plan for entrepreneurial growth in Lawrence
by Maya Hodison
Share this post or save for later
Two support organizations, Douglas County CORE and Black:30, on Friday announced their two-year plan to build entrepreneurship in Lawrence and Douglas County.
Education
La’Ron Williams named 2024 Lawrence Youth of the Year
by Maya Hodison
Share this post or save for later
Free State High School senior La’Ron Williams has been named the 2024 Lawrence Youth of the Year.
Lawrence news
New Lawrence Community Shelter director: Cleanliness, security need work; staff is ‘wonderful’
by Mackenzie Clark
Share this post or save for later
With just shy of three weeks at the helm of the Lawrence Community Shelter, James Chiselom has determined that the building needs some deep cleaning, improvements to security and more places for guests to go.
MORE …
As an expert in municipal governance and public policy, particularly in the domain of utility rates and affordability, I can confidently provide insights into the concepts and issues presented in the article.
Utility Rate Increases: The Lawrence City Commission is set to consider increasing rates for stormwater and solid waste services. The proposed increases include a 7.9% rise in residential stormwater rates and a 6.5% increase in residential solid waste rates. Commercial rates for solid waste would see a more substantial increase at 12.5%.
Cost Allocation Model: The article mentions a cost allocation model that justifies the rate increases on Commercial, Downtown, and Roll-off services. It suggests that single-family and multi-family rates have been subsidizing the costs for these commercial services, and the proposed increases aim to balance the inequity between residential and commercial charges.
Financial Impact and Revenues: The anticipated additional revenues resulting from the proposed rate increases are highlighted. The stormwater rate increase is expected to bring in an additional $451,090, while the solid waste rate increase is projected to generate an extra $1.1 million. However, it's noted that these increases do not cover all operating costs in 2024, and projections indicate a planned use of approximately $570,000 in fund balance to mitigate the extent of rate increases.
Affordable Housing Advisory Board's Perspective: The Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB) is advocating for utility payment plans to be created. The AHAB argues that such plans would provide options for residents experiencing financial difficulties, preventing potential consequences like water shut-offs. The board supports the idea of payment plans as a means to address the challenges faced by low-income individuals in paying their utility bills.
Impact on Housing: The article touches upon the connection between overdue utility payments and difficulties in securing housing. It mentions that individuals might face challenges in signing leases if they owe past utility bills to the city. This underscores the broader impact of utility rates on housing affordability.
City Staff Capacity and Reduced Rates: City staff members have indicated that they currently lack the capacity to create, implement, and manage utility payment plans. Currently, the only residents eligible for reduced utility rates are qualifying seniors with low incomes.
City Commission Decision and Timeline: If approved, the rate increases will take effect on January 1. The Lawrence City Commission is expected to discuss and decide on the planned rate increases during its regular meeting.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the proposed utility rate increases, the rationale behind them, the financial implications, and the advocacy for utility payment plans from the Affordable Housing Advisory Board. It underscores the broader societal impacts of utility rates on housing and the challenges faced by low-income residents in meeting these financial obligations.
