Commissioners plan three layoffs at the Union Rome Sewer District – the latest move to boost the financial health of the delinquency-plagued system.

Friday, August 04, 2000

Commissioners plan three layoffs at the Union Rome Sewer District – the latest move to boost the financial health of the delinquency-plagued system.

The sewer system continues to run dangerously low on finances, commission president Bruce Trent said.

"Aggressive collection and layoffs should improve the health of the organization to make sure we’re not operating in the red," Trent said.

Commissioners voted in favor of the personnel change but did not release names of the effected employees pending notification. The workers’ contracts also have layoff provisions that must be met, the commission said.

While making the call for layoffs, the commission also announced improved collections of unpaid sewer bills.

"We feel like we are making significant headway with collections," he said. "And we will continue that aggressive move for users and employees to be able to maintain services."

Yet, each year, there is less carryover money from the previous sewer district budget, meaning the county cannot afford to let bills lie uncollected because the budget inches closer and closer into the red, Trent said.

A users group began looking at the situation with staff and the commission last year, then made suggestions this year for increasing the delinquency charge on unpaid sewer bills from 1 percent to 15 percent.

Bills did not increase because rates did not increase but enforcing the new charge has boosted collection by 25 percent on this year’s delinquent bills, Trent said.

That reflects about $25,000 of the amounts given to the auditor’s office for collection on tax rolls this year, with the exception of $100,000 dispute and other collections in court, he said.

Sewer district administrator Tim Porter said the delinquency charge decreased average monthly delinquencies from 6 percent to 4 percent.

"It’s doing its job," he said.

Enforcement letters joined with payment plans and other measures to boost collections, Trent added.

"I would like to compliment the prosecutor’s office, Tim and his staff for being assertive on this issue," Trent said.

Layoffs are one more measure to ensure the county is able to maintain its sewer service, not only for the district’s 3,000 customers but for all employees, he said.