City of Baltimore - File #: 17-0015R

• File #: 17-0015R
• Version: 0
• Name: Investigative Hearing - Water Billing
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 3/6/2017
• In control: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations
• Final action: 4/24/2017
• Title: Investigative Hearing - Water Billing For the purpose of requesting that the Department of Public Works and the Department of Finance brief the City Council on water affordability for customers of Baltimore’s Bureau of Water and Wastewater, the new water billing system started in October 2016, and concerns raised by customers of the Bureau of Water and Wastewater regarding unusually high bills, missing bills, and the process to contest bills.
• Sponsors: President Young, Robert Stokes, Sr., Sharon Green Middleton, Brandon M. Scott, Eric T. Costello, Kristerfer Burnett, John T. Bullock, Ryan Dorsey, Bill Henry, Zeke Cohen, Shannon Sneed, Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer, Edward Reisinger
• Indexes: Investigative Hearing, Water Bills

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
4/24/2017	0	City Council	Adopted
4/24/2017	0	Judiciary and Legislative Investigations	Recommended Favorably
4/4/2017	0	Judiciary and Legislative Investigations	Recommended Favorably	Pass
3/29/2017	0	Judiciary and Legislative Investigations	Scheduled for Voting Session
3/27/2017	0	Judiciary and Legislative Investigations	Conducted Public Hearing
3/9/2017	0	The City Council	Refer to Dept. of Public Works
3/9/2017	0	The City Council	Refer to Dept. of Finance
3/6/2017	0	City Council	Assigned
3/6/2017	0	City Council	Introduced
3/6/2017	0	Judiciary and Legislative Investigations	Scheduled for a Public Hearing

* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*

City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)

Introduced by: President Young and Councilmember Stokes



A Resolution Entitled

A Council Resolution concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Water Billing
For the purpose of requesting that the Department of Public Works and the Department of Finance brief the City Council on water affordability for customers of Baltimore’s Bureau of Water and Wastewater, the new water billing system started in October 2016, and concerns raised by customers of the Bureau of Water and Wastewater regarding unusually high bills, missing bills, and the process to contest bills.
body

Recitals

In October 2016, the Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Water and Wastewater implemented a monthly water billing system. As customers of the City’s Bureau of Water and Wastewater participate in this program, many concerns have been raised.

The system has worked well for many customers, but others have seen unusually high bills, bills coming at seemingly random intervals, or obviously mistaken bills. It is not clear how common these billing errors are, but some that have occurred have been widely publicized and discussed, leading to questions about the accuracy and reliability of the new system even among customers who would not otherwise have reason to doubt their bills. Coming so soon after the introduction of a new system advertised as the solution to Baltimore’s longstanding water billing problems, these issues need to be publically acknowledged and addressed to...