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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 19, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. (p - b <br />SUBJECT: Efland Sewer Low-Income Rate Assistance <br />DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) NO <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Efland Sewer Rate Increase Schedule <br />2. Memo from Town of Hillsborough's <br />Water Sewer Advisory Committee <br />Recommending Efland Customers Be <br />Allowed to Use the Town's Water <br />Assistance Program Funds for Sewer <br />Bill Assistance <br />3. Memorandum from Town Manager <br />Eric Peterson Approving Efland <br />Customers Use of the Town's Water <br />Assistance Program Funds for Sewer <br />Bill Assistance <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Kevin Lindley, Engineering Specialist, <br />245-2313 <br />PURPOSE: To provide information on assistance options for low-income customers. of the <br />Efland Sewer System. <br />BACKGROUND: The Efland Sewer System was conceived in the early to mid-1980s as a <br />remedy for failing septic systems in the Efland Community. The Efland Sewer System was <br />established by Resolution of the BOCC in November 1985. The rates set at the time were <br />sufficient for the operation of the system. However, over the last twenty years the costs of both <br />operation and maintenance have increased steadily while the rates have remained unchanged. <br />At the present time the revenue generated by the current rate structure accounts for only 20- <br />25% of the full cost of operating and maintaining the system. The remainder of the system cost <br />is paid from the Orange County General Fund. <br />With this in mind the BOCC authorized creation of a rate increase schedule that would be <br />implemented over the next four fiscal years, beginning on July 1, 2009. This schedule is <br />included as Attachment 1. Because of the disparity between the costs to run the system and <br />the revenue generated by the current rates, the rates will be increasing substantially. Even <br />spread over four fiscal years the rates may be difficult for some customers, especially those <br />with lower incomes. <br />Recognizing this, the BOCC asked staff to investigate options for assisting low-income <br />customers with these increased sewer rates. Engineering staff met with Staff Attorney Annette <br />Moore and representatives from the Tax Office (Jo Roberson), Department of Social Services <br />