The City of Battle Ground is taking additional steps to assist utility customers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by forgiving past due water, sewer, and stormwater drainage utility account balances for eligible customers.
The temporary COVID-19 Utility Relief Program provides financial assistance to eligible residential and small business customers by absolving utility account balances that are past due. The past due amount is forgiven and participating customers will not need to pay it back.
The program is financed by $200,700 in CARES funding and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are expended. Customers qualify for the program if their city utility accounts are past due with an account balance unpaid for over 30 days.
Eligible residential customers must meet household income limits set by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Battle Ground, those limits are $30,800 for a 1-person household, $35,300 for a 2-person household, $39,600 for a 3-person household, and $43,950 for a 4-person household. The qualifying income levels continue to increase with additional household members, up to $58,050 for an 8-person household.
A small business is eligible if it has 50 or fewer employees and can show a decrease in net income over the past 6 months.
Applications must be received by the city no later than November 15, 2020, and are available online at the City of Battle Ground COVID-19 Utility Relief Program or by request at 360-342-5002.
Although city offices remain closed per the Governor’s Safe Start plan, staff is available to assist customers with applications by phone or by email.