(A) Purpose of utility discounts. There is hereby enacted a senior citizen and disabled person utility discount program, the purpose of which is to reduce the amount due under the city’s utility rate resolutions for water and sewer service to lower income senior citizens and disabled persons.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
DISABLED PERSON. A person who is permanently and totally disabled and who has been so declared by a state agency for purposes of workers’ compensation laws or by the Social Security Administration of the federal government.
SENIOR CITIZEN. A person 62 years of age or older.
(C) Qualifications of applicants.
(1) A senior citizen or disabled person must submit application for benefits under this section.
(2) To qualify for the utility discount program:
(a) The applicant must be a senior citizen as defined in division (B) above or a disabled person as defined in division (B) above;
(b) The applicant must be a resident in, and head of, the household for which the discount is requested;
(c) The applicant shall have an annual income from all sources not exceeding the sums specified in the low-income table for families in need of financial assistance in the county, as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
(d) The applicant shall not have transferred, during the previous five years, by gift or otherwise, for less than full consideration, any real property, any expectancy due under any will or trust, or from any estate or any bank account.
(3) Utility discounts are available to any user of the water and sewer system of the city, whether or not a resident or inhabitant of the city.
(D) Application required. A person desiring to receive a senior citizen or disabled person utility discount must submit an application to the city therefor on a form provided by the city. In order to maintain continuous qualification for the discount, the applicant shall, no later than June 15 of each ensuing year, file an annual renewal application on a form provided by the city.
(E) Amount of utility discount. Discounts from amounts charged for water and sewer service shall be established by resolution of the City Council. An applicant who meets the requirements of this section shall receive a discount from the regular charge, beginning with the last billing period after the date of the application, and shall be billed in that manner until the applicant no longer qualifies for the discount.
(F) Duration of the program. The provisions of this section shall become effective with the August 1, 1988 billing for utility services. The senior citizen and disabled person utility discount is an innovative program, and the Council reserves the right to discontinue the program at any time.
(Ord. 1108, passed 6-27-1988) Penalty, see § 50.99