The expiration date on a city program that helps those who struggle to pay their water bills is June 16th.
Council members intervene to extend the water affordability program through mid June 2011. The program is set up to help those in low-income households deal with the water rate increase which was established in March of 2009.
Additional increases are expected in the near future, but it's unclear whether the assistance will be raised to match.
"At this point we're gonna stay with same levels of assistance that were in place last year, if there is an increase in that it would have to come back in a new ordinance to discuss making changes to that assistance," said Community Development Director Bill Howerton.
The program assists those age 65 and older who live on a fixed income, disabled residents, or those with children under age 18 in the household.
This is only a first reading of the ordinance, so those who would like to enroll will have to wait for final passage.
