Fiscal Note
On March 23, 2020, the Mayor issued an Emergency Proclamation based on the increasing transmission of the COVID-19 virus within the City of Madison. To help mitigate the financial impacts of this emergency on the businesses and residents of Madison, the proposed resolution suspends utility and municipal service late charges effective 4/1/2020 until 60 days after the emergency ends. Lost late fee revenue is anticipated to be $16,000 per month.
A budget amendment is not proposed at this time. The Finance Department is closely monitoring the 2020 budget and subsequent budget amendment resolutions to fully fund the response efforts are anticipated in the future.
Title
Amending Secs. 13.12, 35.02(8)(d), 35.025(5) and 37.05(4)(h) of the Madison General Ordinances to Allow for the Suspension of Utility and Municipal Service Late Charges
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: This ordinance amends the late billing provisions of the Water Utility, Sewer Utility, Stormwater Utility and the Landfill Remediation Charge to allow for suspension of utility late charges as directed by the Public Service Commission (for the Water Utility) and the Common Council (for the Sewer Utility, Stormwater Utility and Landfill Remediation charges). Currently, late charges are required by ordinance. However, in response to the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic, and pursuant to Executive Order of the Governor, the Public Service Commission (the PSC) has suspended late charges on Water Utility bills during the duration of the public health emergency. This change will ensure that the Water Utility’s suspension of late charges during the pandemic, as directed by the PSC, is lawful under state and local law. It will also allow the Council, by a companion resolution, to suspend late charges for the Sewer Utility, Stormwater Utility and Landfill Remediation Charge. As late charges are applied uniformly to all City utility bills when municipal service bills are processed by the Water Utility, this ...
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