Leander Finance Director Robert Powers said city staff has suspended late penalties and cutoffs since the end of March through the end of April. The council-approved measures will lessen some utility penalties and fees through June 30.
Through June 30, the city will reduce utility fees for late payments, late payment interest and reinstatements for city water and sewer customers. Fees will be amended as follows.
- Late payments will be charged penalties for balances of $50 or greater instead of balances of $10 or greater.
- Late payment interest will be reduced to 2% and no less than $2 instead of to 10% and no less than $10.
- The reinstatement fee will be reduced to $25 for accounts with balances of at least $200 instead of to $40 for accounts with balances of $50 or more.
“Anything that we can do to help those who need it, we should definitely take a look at,” Mayor Troy Hill said after the unanimous vote.
In March, 1,749 customer accounts received late penalties totaling $21,974, according to the city. 1,724 accounts were residential customers, who averaged $11.94 in penalties.
Council also voted to extend the city’s disaster declaration for 30 days. Leander Mayor Troy Hill first signed a disaster declaration March 17 as a response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The declaration allows the city to continue operations as they are and to seek reimbursement for expenditures, and it is different than a stay-at-home order.
