(a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings given:
(1) Assets test means that any person having assets in excess of either:
(i) Five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) in liquid assets such as bank accounts, savings, certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds, etc.; or
(ii) Five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) in equity in assessed value of non-homestead property;
shall be ineligible to participate in the program, notwithstanding that he meets the income qualifications set forth in this section. However, motor vehicles for personal use, household furnishings and the benefitted property itself, as well as buildings located thereon which are occupied by the person seeking to qualify as a home for himself and his family, shall not be included in computing assets.
(2) Income means gross income as defined in Section 61 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(3) Program means the assistance program established in this section.
(4) Qualified customer means a person responsible for a residential landfill user fee (schedule A) for their place of residence or a person responsible for fees paid to a landfill for dropping off garbage and refuse from their place of residence who meets the assets test and has an annual income equal to or less than one hundred fifty (150) percent of the poverty income levels set forth in the poverty guidelines chart established by the community services administration, annually published in the Federal Register, in effect at the time of application. Income shall be measured by the definition contained in subsection (a)(2) of this section.
(b) Qualified customers may receive an assistance grant for fifty (50) percent of their landfill user fee bill (schedule A or drop-off fees paid at a landfill). All payments of landfill user fee bills under the program by the urban county government are subject to the annual appropriation by the urban county council of the funds to make such payments, and neither the establishment of this program nor participation in the program shall constitute a contract between the urban county government and any qualified customer for other than the fiscal year for which funds are appropriated to make payments. In the event funds are not appropriated for any given fiscal year, customers will be required to pay the full cost for that year.
(c) The administration of this program shall be under the division of community and resident services in the department of housing advocacy and community development. The commissioners of the departments of finance, environmental quality and public works, and housing advocacy and community development may prescribe such regulations and procedures consistent with the provisions of this section as deemed necessary to carry out the intentions stated herein.
(Ord. No. 212-95, § 1, 9-21-95; Ord. No. 70-98, §§ 1, 2, 3-19-98; Ord. No. 067-2023, § 1, 6-29-23)