Rio Rancho considers relief for water users

Proposal applies to poorer residents

RIO RANCHO — The Rio Rancho governing body has approved the first reading of an ordinance that would help poorer residents pay their water bill.

The ordinance, first introduced and sponsored by councilors Jim Owen and Cheryl Everett, would assist water customer applicants who are living within 133 percent of the poverty line as calculated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources.

The poverty level for a family of four, according to the ordinance, is an annual $24,300 salary, and 133 percent of the poverty level is $32,319. According to most recent U.S. census data, the median household income in Rio Rancho is $59,243, with 11.3 percent of city residents living in poverty.

Ratepayers in the program would receive 30 percent in assistance of the total utility bill each month.

“We get a lot of calls that our water bills are significantly higher than other places and that does make it difficult for some people,” Owen said.

Everett said the governing body should consider residents who have struggled to keep up with the city’s five-year water rate hike, which has ended this fiscal year.

“We need to make the improvements to this system that these water rate increases are funding, but we don’t want to crush individual citizens under the machinery of going forward,” she said.

Before passing the ordinance, the governing body amended and passed a resolution that provided guidelines to the ordinance. According to the resolution, funds for the assistance program will be funded through monetary donations made by utility customers, citizens and other entities. By Sept. 15, the city will review if enough money has been collected for the program. The program will be established by Nov. 1 if sufficient funds are found.

Amendments proposed by councilors Jennifer Flor and Dawnn Robinson introduced time limits to the ordinance: Rate-payers accepted into the program would be allowed assistance for a maximum of three consecutive months and a lifetime maximum of 12 months. Rate-payers who are eligible can reapply for the program, as long as they are within the 12 months lifetime maximum.

Councilor Marlene Feuer said she was in favor of the program and any private donations that would fund the program.

“I am a fiscal conservative, but I believe there are times where people need fiscal assistance and it can become a health and safety issue,” Feuer said. “I had a homeowner in my district whose water was shut off and people were defecating in the backyard.”