ORDINANCE NO. 1783
AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO THE RATE FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS FOR ELECTRIC AND WATER UTILITIES AMENDING SECTIONS 401, 402 AND 403 OF CHAPTER 17 AND ADDING SECTION 404 TO THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GOODLAND, KANSAS.
ARTICLE IV
LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
SECTION 17-401. LOW INCOME ELECTRIC UTILITY RATE:
Any household whose total annual income according to the number of persons in the household is less than the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2), shall be eligible for a monthly low-income electric rate, which shall be charged as follows:
(1) Energy charge: $0.110 per KWH.
(2) Customer charge: None.
SECTION 17-402. LOW INCOME WATER UTILITY
Any household whose total annual income according to the number of persons in the household is less than the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2), shall be eligible for a monthly low income water rate. The monthly low income water utility rate shall be 15 percent lower than the monthly water rates currently set out in the Code of the City of Goodland, Kansas. There shall be no meter charge for low income customers.
SECTION 17-403. APPLICATION
Any member of a household which qualifies hereunder may make an application with the city clerk to be approved for low income electric and water rates. Said application shall be on a form prepared by the city clerk and the city clerk shall be authorized to solicit such information on said form as may be necessary to properly evaluate said application. The annual gross income is defined to mean the full 12 calendar months immediately prior to the filing of an application with the city clerk. Said application form shall contain an authorization, to be signed by said applicant, authorizing the city clerk to verify the information set forth in said application. Said application shall be duly subscribed and sworn to by the applicant.
Upon receipt of an application, the city clerk shall have 15 days in which to approve or disapprove an application. In the event of a disagreement between the applicant and the city clerk, the applicant shall be entitled to appeal the decision of the city clerk to the city manager, then to the city commission, which shall make a final determination upon said application.
Approval of an application shall be for a 12-month period. However, if during said 12-month period the total annual gross income from all members of a household shall exceed the total annual income according to the number of persons in the household is less than the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2), it shall be the applicant’s responsibility to so notify the city clerk so that said household will revert to the regular electrical and water rates. At the end of the 12-month period after approval of an application, said approval shall automatically terminate, unless the applicant shall, at least 15 days prior to the end of said 12-month period, file an application for an additional 12-month period of reduced electrical and water rates, as provided herein. Upon receipt of a reapplication, the city clerk shall have 15 days in which to approve or disapprove such reapplication.
SECTION 17-404. INCREASE IN TOTAL ANNUAL INCOME LIMIT.
(d)Incremental increases. Beginning January 1, 2025 and continuing each year thereafter, the total annual income limit as set in Sections 17-401, 17-402 and 17-403 shall match the federal government’s Health and Human Services poverty guidelines as published in the Federal Register. The guidelines are usually published by the end of January of each year. The total annual income limit as set will match the amounts as stated in the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2).
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 7th day of October, 2024, by the Governing Body of the City of Goodland, Kansas.
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J.J. Howard, Vice-Mayor
ATTEST:
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Mary P. Volk, City Clerk