July 7, 2005

Contact Person:

Deborah Hildebrandt City of Salem Public Works Department 503-588-6414

The City of Salem Announces a New Water and Sewer Low Income Donation Program

The City of Salem refers customers who are experiencing difficulty paying their water and sewer bills to local social service agencies for financial assistance. These individuals and families have encountered financial hardship and simply do not have the money to pay their water and sewer bills. It is estimated that local service agencies provide $15,000 of water and sewer bill assistance to customers on an annual basis. However, local social service agencies continually run out of money to help.

The new Water and Sewer Low Income Assistance Program was developed at the request of the Salem Water/Wastewater Task Force and supported by the City Council. The City of Salem recognized the need of low income customers and has begun implementing a new Water and Sewer Low Income Assistance Program effective July 1, 2005.

Donation notices will be sent to all City of Salem water and sewer customers in addition to their regular water and sewer account bills. Donations may qualify for a tax deduction, however, customers should consult their tax preparer or lawyer to be sure. Customers can choose to provide a one-time donation and mail in a single check in the amount of both their donation and their water and sewer bill in the return envelope provided. Customers choosing to provide a continuing donation would return the donation form with their water and sewer bill payment indicating how much they wish to donate in increments of $5.00 or more and which billing cycle they prefer either monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly. The City would then bill the customer on that basis outside of the normal water and sewer bill process.

Water and Sewer Low Income Assistance Program donation forms will be sent to water and sewer customers for three (3) billing cycles each year beginning with the July 1, 2005, billing cycle. The first billing cycle customers, and all new first time water and sewer customers, will receive a full page program explanation and donation form. After the initial billing cycle, customers will receive a smaller donation form with selected information regarding the assistance program.

One hundred (100) percent of the funds collected by the Water and Sewer Low Income Assistance Program will be set aside into a special grant fund to be used exclusively for low income water and sewer assistance. Local social service agencies may apply for a grant from the City of Salem Public Works Department. Social service agencies will determine client eligibility for low income assistance and distribute funds from the grant.

For further information regarding this program, please contact the City of Salem Customer Services Call Center at 503-588-6099 or Deborah Ingledew-Covington at 503-588-6414 or by email at Dhildebrandt@cityofsalem.net. A donation form is available online to make a donation to this program.