Minutes 12-07-2020 Virtual Business Meeting

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13 were made in hopes of saving money now to help weather the storm over the next 6 months. He said OWASA needs to find $2 million over the next 6 months, and typically budgets very frugally. He said there is no surplus of funds, as has been intimated. He said OWASA may have to use reserves. Todd Taylor said the lion's share of the budget comes from customer revenue, and it simply cannot be used to pay off debts. He said the money has to be put back into the system. He said customers cannot be charged different rates. He said larger cities are trying out some different practices, but OWASA's rules/restrictions remain intact. Commissioner Bedford commended OWASA staff for not having a pay raise this year. Chair Price asked Bonnie Hammersley if the County could work with the towns and UNC, per Commissioner Dorosin's suggestion. Bonnie Hammersley said staff would follow up on this. Chair Price also suggested starting a conversation with legislative delegates about changing restrictions placed on OWASA. Commissioner McKee said there are two parallel conversations going on: OWASA's business model, and its restrictions therein; and how does the County help alleviate financial burdens of citizens. He said the state laws are what they are. He said he does not see much change coming there. He said he would like the County/Towns/UNC to do something similar to the IFC funding to help residents alleviate debt. He said social justice funds could be used. Commissioner Dorosin said Commissioner McKee's comments are well taken, but he wants a straight answer from OWASA as to whether or not it can write off the debt. He said the total debt is $280,000, and asked if the County/town/UNC paid off some of this, would OWASA be open to this. Chair Price said staff will work on this. Commissioner Dorosin said he would like to hear from OWASA, as some portion of this $280,000 will be uncollectable, and if local governments and UNC could pay some of it, could the remaining portion be written off. Todd Taylor said OWASA is obligated to try and collect the debt, and cannot write off a portion of it, due to current laws and constraints. He said OWASA typically writes off very little, and doing more would be a financial red flag to auditors/creditors. He said it is illegal for OWASA to say it will not pursue certain debt, or write it off. Commissioner Dorosin asked it would be appealing to OWASA for the local government/UNC to pay a large chunk of this now, as opposed to getting some of it over the next 12-18 months. Todd Taylor said the proposal was certainly appealing, but OWASA is constrained on what it can do. He said OWASA wants to help customers in any way that it can. He said one avenue to make changes is through changing state law, but that is unlikely to get any traction. Commissioner Price said staff will pursue working with other local governments and UNC. Commissioner Dorosin asked if there are any other avenues that can be pursued to make this process easier. Todd Taylor said appealing to the state legislature for grant funding is another avenue. He said there are other ways to get the money, but state law handcuffs OWASA. b. Resolution in Support of Reparations for African American/Blacks The Board considered voting to adopt a Resolution in Support of Reparation for African American/Blacks on the 15511 Anniversary of the 1311 Amendment. Annette Moore, Human Rights and Relations Director, reviewed the item below: