State Grant Pays off Large Debt From Unpaid Water Bills Stemming from the Pandemic

The City of Susanville Public Works Department gets relief as a state grant pays off 442 unpaid water bills. During the height of the pandemic utilities were not allowed to be shut off due to lack of payment as many were impacted financially by the loss of jobs, cuts backs due to closures, and other hardships. Public Works Director Bob Godman at the City of Susanville City Council meeting shared with the Council that through the California Water and Wastewater Arrearage payment program the city was able to pay off around 70,000 dollars worth of unpaid water bills. The federally funded program has allotted nearly a billion dollars to the state water board in efforts to provide this relief to communities throughout California.