Proposed reforms could reduce reconnect payments and eliminate fees for some residents<\/p>\n
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas \u2014 <\/p>\n
As water bills continue rising in Corpus Christi, some city leaders are looking for ways to help seniors and disabled veterans avoid shutoff’s and keep water flowing to their homes. <\/p>\n
Residential water and wastewater bills increased by nearly nine dollars a month at the start of the year. Additional rate hikes are expected over the next five years to help fund infrastructure improvements and the proposed desalination plant.<\/p>\n
For many residents living on fixed incomes, city leaders say the increases are becoming harder to manage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all have bills, right, Mr. Michael? We all have bills, but sometimes we have to limit our budget when we get our SS check,\u201d said senior citizen Viola Flores.<\/p>\n
Related:\u00a0Corpus Christi officials urge residents to better understand water bills amid ongoing restrictions<\/a><\/p>\n Several city council members are now discussing ways to reduce the burden for customers who fall behind on payments. One proposal would lower the amount required to reconnect water service after a shutoff.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re trying to make that 50% go down to at least 10%, because Water is not a want, it is a need, and our seniors and our veterans should not live without water,\u201d said Councilman Eric Cantu.<\/p>\n Councilwoman Carolyn Vaughn says she would support eliminating reconnection fees entirely.<\/p>\n \u201cI would just do away with a fee. If it were me, I would say OK, pay your water bill and give them certain payments that they can pay, because if they don\u2019t have the money to pay the bill, why would they have the money to pay a fee?\u201d Vaughn said.<\/p>\n Mayor Paulette Guajardo says she is also working on a separate utility assistance program to help residents struggling with rising costs.<\/p>\n \u201cI am working on something right now where we are going to create a utility assistance program, and I can\u2019t tell you too much about it right now, but more is coming,\u201d Guajardo said.<\/p>\n Council member Roland Barrera says the city already offers some utility assistance programs, but with more than 10,000 delinquent accounts, council members say additional help may be needed.<\/p>\n More from 3NEWS on KIIITV.com: \u00a0<\/p>\n