Title
Water Residential Assistance Program Funding for DWSD Lifeline Pilot Plan
Body
Agenda of: July 27, 2022
Item No.: 2022-323
Amount: N/A
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: July 25, 2022
RE: Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) Funding for
New DWSD Lifeline Pilot Plan
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Nicolette Bateson, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), approves the use of Water Residential Assistance Program Funds for the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department Lifeline Plan with quarterly reporting of the plan's progress to the GLWA Audit Committee; and authorizes the CEO to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
The Detroit Water & Sewerage Department (DWSD) recently announced an income-based water affordability pilot plan called the Detroit Lifeline Plan. The plan was approved by the Detroit Board of Water Commissioners (BOWC) on June 28, 2022. The plan will offer qualifying customers an inclining block rate structure for water usage providing a lower water rate up to 4,500 gallons per month. Income-qualifying households will pay as little as $18 per month total for water, sewerage, and drainage costs and no more than $56 per month. Attached is the presentation that was provided and approved by the Detroit BOWC.
In his presentation to the BOWC, DWSD Director Gary Brown indicated that federal, state, and regional dollars will be used to fund the plan. DWSD plans to leverage Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) dollars to help fund a portion of the plan. WRAP is funded through one half of one percent (0.5%) of budgeted revenues, with DWSD contributing an additional one half of one percent (0.5%) for a total of one percent for the City of...
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