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