The state is forcing Jackson to finally get serious about collecting water/sewer bills. The city banned cutoffs for nonpayment of water/sewer bills in May 2020 although it has cut off the cutoffs several times since 2016. Such practices created a destitute water/sewer system that is on the verge of collapse. The water/sewer system should be a money-maker but instead operates at a loss of nearly $20 million per year. Fortunately, the free water for those who do not pay their bills will come to an end in September.
Bedeviled by tens of millions of dollars in uncollected water bills, Jackson asked
the legislature to change the law barring municipalities from forgiving uncollectable water bills. The legislature gave Jackson what it wanted in HB #359 but with several conditions.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and Public Service Utilities Staff Executive Director Sally Doty agreed to a plan that will start whipping the water/sewer finances back into shape. The agreement spells out the problem that HB #359 hopes to solve:
According to Mississippi law, a debt to a municipality can only be compromised under very limited circumstances. Likewise, the statute of limitations does not run on debt to a municipality. Accounts receivables for the City of Jackson reveal nearly three decades of accumulated water and sewer debt, a great deal of which has accumulated since 2014. Addressing this large build-up of debt is the key to allowing the City of Jackson to recover necessary operating revenues, restore trust, redevelop good payment behavior among customers, and secure a better financial position for the City of Jackson. Central to the recovery of the City's Water-Sewer Enterprise, which funds the operation, maintenance, and debt service of the City Water-Sewer Utility, will be the promotion of the payment of bills by customers as they become due, rather than the continuation of the current habit of arrearage accumulation caused by disputed bills and affordability.
Under the agreement between Jackson and the Public Utilities Staff, Jackson must cut off the moratorium on cutoffs that has been in place since May 2020 and collect what it can collect. Jackson can not cut off the cutoffs again unless federal or state authorities declare a state of emergency. The moratorium will expire on September 1.
 |
The numbers tell the story of Jackson's water woes. The city suffers nearly $40 million in uncollected water bills from 14,558 active accounts. Only $863,58 is disputed by active customers. Jackson will start cutting off these delinquent accounts on September 1 if they do not enter installment plans as directed under HB #359.
Another 16,903 accounts account for $43,362,105 in "inactive debt." Jackson will hire several collection agencies to pursue payment from accounts that have a "potential for recovery" while the rest are moved over to a classification of "doubtful claims." Doing so permits Jackson's water/sewer accounts to reflect reality
instead of arcane accounting rules. In effect, this debt is a charge
off but is not called a charge off.
In addition to re-instituting cut-offs, the city will establish a minimum payment option for "stranded bills." Many water/sewer customers do not receive bills. Customers will enter a stranded bill program by March 1, 2022 if they are not receiving bills.
The city must also report to the state by January 1, 2022 to the:
* Revenue collection
* Number of accounts that are uncollectable
* Number of accounts placed in installment plans
* Number of accounts that are past due
* Effect of program on Jackson's water/sewer revenue collection
The city will establish a "Ratepayer Assistance Program". The program allows current customers to pay their monthly bill and $10 per month until either the balance is paid or 24 months expires, whichever comes first. Customers must pay their bill on time for three months before they can enter the program. They must use some form of government assistance (such as TANF or SNAP) and show they applied for federal or state utility assistance.
Enrolled customers must pay on time every time or else they will be kicked out of the program. They can only be reinstated one time if they bring their bill current and pay a fee (that is not yet determined.).
Crazy, exorbitant water bills have tormented many Jacksonians ever since the Siemens project began. The agreement allows such customers to pay 40% of the balanced owed in installments over 24 months. They must pay their current bill and 10% of the reduced balance to initiate the program.
The new policies do not apply to commercial accounts as their lines are greater than one inch. The city will sue delinquent account-holders unless arrangements are made. Apartment complexes will not be subjected to cutoffs. However, the city will turn over such delinquent accounts to a lawyer or collection agency.
29 comments:
Empty some parking meters............fix some parking meters..........cut some fat and fire some cousins from the city payroll.....THIS is what will happen, ChokonmyLaDumbo will OVERCHARGE the wealthier side of the city AND BYRAM for water then forget to collect the not so wealthy in other parts of the city. Bank on it.
So, does this mean I will receive a bill before Sept? I don't know how to get on the internet to check my bill
Soooo....Just like most other things you must be on a bunch of gubment programs to qualify for the forgiveness. If you make a good living and try to do the right thing and you pay now!!!
The mess will just get bigger for there is no way Jackson can carry out this program. This requires way too much thinking and doing.
My guess is that the city will simply refuse to abide by their agreement and the state will give them a pass as they always do. A real state government made up of people of integrity would have removed or locked up these clowns by now. Then again this is the same legislature that won't kick out the drunks and wife beaters in their own ranks so that is par for the course.
I agree with 1:39.
Bet that this rule is not applied equally across the zip codes.
And to the voters, the mean ol' governor took away the free water they should not have to pay for already.
Chock will still be the hero to them.
He completely ignored the Feds & the EPA what makes anyone think he's going to adhere to the stipulations issued by the State?
HaHaHa!!!
Receivership. Step One.
And just like that, Kenny and Chokwe are holding hands again.
They haven't been paid by me in 2 years because the dumb son of a bitches can't even send me a bill. They are imbeciles who can't function. We are operating on a third world level here in Jackson because there is no accountability.
Whatever happened to the Siemens settlement money?
Have seen no evidence during Lumumba's reign of errors that his administration can execute against a plan regardless how simple and/or defined it may be.
Paid $20 a month for years until the last bill received (2-3 years ago) which was $660. Tried incessantly to resolve but no one would ever call us back.
Healthy jump from $20 to $660. Haven't received a bill or return call from anyone since. Hope they're not gonna be overly stupid when resurrecting their billing dept.
I'm not even able to connect to the internet. How am I supposed to pay the bill? How much is my bill? Where do I send the payment? Can the city please answer these simple questions first before cutting off my water? Hell....can they at least pick up the storm debris from over 2 months ago. Please, oh please....can someone with 1/2 a brain please take over this city. Please...I'm begging
A good portion of that could be paid by the $30mil that was paid to Chockwe's attorney buddies in the Siemens suit, but nobody wants to talk about that. We could have $90mil vs $60mil. Thirty is a lot of millions.
couldn't Jackson water customers, who have high bills, sue the city to make them prove that’s what they owe? I always see people complaining but does they have a legal option?
It makes no difference who pays or not.
Jackson can't even provide water most days of the year.
BTW, a couple of National Guard folks have said their Generals have said " there is no way that they would enter Jackson ".
Just a few examples:
1. Legally they have no authority to arrest civilians, unless there is a major Federal declared emergency.
2. It would solve nothing in the long run.
3. Only the MP units are trained for such a goofy idea.
4. They could not stay in Jackson for ever.
He had many other observations that I can't post.
(Off topic, it seems Cafe Press has no more Stoke's caps in stock).
Slightly off-topic but how much did the city get from Rankin County in their various agreements? Rankin County owes the city for biosolid removal and should also have to foot the bill for their portion of the Savannah St facility. They shouldnt be able to use the facility for 40 years and then just walk away once it needs replacement. Also, its been 7 months since WRUA was supposed to flip the switch and magically start treating their own WW...according to their bond documents and their completely unfeasible schedule. Those water bills in Rankin County will be real interesting when they are still paying Jackson, not treating their sewage yet and the full bond payments kick in Jan. 1.
I will believe the free water program will end when it ends. Free water has propelled Lumbo to the pinnacle he now sits upon.
Nothing will change.
There will be nothing but excuses from Jackson.
And just like that, the Siemens settlement money went poooooof. It was only a perception of a settlement.
6:07
Rankin County was more than likely the only ones who actually paid anything! Jackson’s plant needs more money injected into (just in maintenance) than the cost of what good leadership spent on the new Treatment facility in Rankin.
The Siemens money went to pay back the city accounts that they borrowed from to keep the water department afloat. They took from accounts that their bond holders required to be at certain levels. Remember when the city’s bond rating decreased? It was because they took from those accounts. So there isn’t Siemens money available.
3:00 PM:
conveniently funneled into someone's pocket, i'm betting
"The program allows current customers to pay their monthly bill and $10 per month until either the balance is paid or 24 months expires, whichever comes first."
Let's see...If I owe $2200 in arrears and begin paying it back at the rate of $10 per month, at the end of 24 months I will have paid $240 and my $2200 debt is satisfied. I've heard Sally Doty on the radio and thought she had better sense than to fall for this! I was wrong.
According to the Clarion Ledger 14,000 of Jackson's 43,000 water customers are "stranded" (not getting a bill) So 1/3 are not billed?
Is it not strange that the people who cannot connect to the Internet managed to leave a comment on this website? How are they reading this? They must have mind control.
@10:17 www.dirtywaterbilljacksonms.com? Is that it? I tried www.rawbooboo.com, but that didn't work. Please advise
Contrast and Compare
1. Jackson Sewer and Water System.
2. Privies and Rain Barrels System.
Similarities:
Both are sh!t holes with undependable water.
Differences:
One is a hundred million in payment arrears,
the other is payment free for all rears.
Post a Comment