Title
Amending Title 19 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Finance, Taxes, and Collections," to revise certain provisions of Section 19-1605 to provide parameters for reducing the accumulated indebtedness of customers who participate in the Income-Based Water Rate Assistance Program.
Body
WHEREAS, Bill No. 140607-AA mandated that customers participating in the Income-Based Water Rate Assistance Program (IWRAP) would earn forgiveness of arrearages "under such terms and conditions as are adopted by regulation"; and
WHEREAS, the Philadelphia Water Department and Philadelphia Revenue Department adopted regulations concerning the IWRAP program on March 10, 2017, by amending Chapter 2 of the Water Department's regulations, and renaming the program the "Tiered Assistance Program" or "TAP"; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 2 of the Water Department's regulations provide for forgiveness of penalty charges if the TAP customer makes payments of TAP bills for twenty-four (24) months; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 2 of the Water Department's regulations provide for removal of arrears pursuant to a pre-existing provision of the Philadelphia Code, Section 19-1605(1), which permits charges that are fifteen (15) years or older to be waived; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 2 of the Water Department's regulations does not effectuate City Council's intention in mandating that earned forgiveness of arrearages shall be available to TAP customers; and
WHEREAS, in adopting Chapter 2 of the Water Department's regulations, the Water Commissioner and Revenue Commissioner agreed to re-evaluate earned forgiveness of arrearages, and determine whether to modify the earned forgiveness provisions, prior to the 2018 Rate Proceeding that commenced by formal notice on March 14, 2018; and
WHEREAS, the Water Department and Revenue Department did not propose any modification to TAP earned forgiveness, nor provide any details regarding a re-evaluati...
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