JACKSON — Some residents in Mississippi’s capital with overdue water bills could be eligible for support through a new program announced this week by the city.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba on Monday said the city wants to help residents catch up on past due bills and offer potential debt forgiveness. It will apply to low-income residents, those with water issues related to faulty equipment and individuals affected by weather events, the Clarion Ledger reports.
Lumumba said money recouped through the program could be used to fix widespread infrastructure issues with the water system. City water customers owe more than $100 million in unpaid bills.
“The city’s water woes have been well-chronicled,” Lumumba said at a briefing outside city hall, according to the Ledger. “I’m asking all residents become a part of the program. If you qualify under the low-income program, you can look forward to turning the page.”
The payment plans providing customers with additional time to make payments on their water bills will go into effect July 19.
For those with large debt, the plan will allow residents to pay a monthly amount with an additional $10 tacked on over several months to cover past due bills. Provided the resident pays on a timely basis, some debt can be forgiven, Lumumba said.
“As a city, we’d rather receive 50 percent of someone’s bill over 100 percent of nothing,” Lumumba said.
Lumumba also said that residents who haven’t been receiving a water bill can expect to see one soon. Around 14,000 of the city’s 43,000 water customers are considered “stranded,” meaning they are not currently receiving a bill. Lumumba said those customers will pay a flat rate that has yet to be determined.
The city will begin shutting off water for those not paying their bills on Sept. 1. A moratorium had been in effect because of the pandemic.
“For all of those people that have come up to me year after year and said I haven’t received a bill, or my water bill is too high, I’m asking you to become a part of this program,” Lumumba said.
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