(a)  The CASH program is established to assist eligible senior citizens and disabled persons in paying utility bills and to assist eligible senior citizens in making utility related emergency home repairs.

(b)    City utility customers may specify amounts they wish to contribute to the CASH program and have such amounts charged on their utility bills.  Contributions to the CASH program shall be accounted for separately.

(c)    To be eligible to receive assistance as a senior citizen, an individual must be a least 60 years old.  To be eligible to receive assistance as a disabled person, an individual either must be currently receiving income based on disability status (for example social security disability payments) or must be totally unable to work because of a physical or mental impairment as documented by a health care professional.

(d)    An individual must meet the following guidelines to be eligible to receive assistance under the CASH program:

    (1)    The individual must be a City electric utility customer and the utility account must be in the individual’s name.

    (2)    The individual’s household income must be at or below 150% of the federal government’s poverty guidelines.

    (3)    The individual’s other resources must be exhausted.

(e)    Assistance in paying utility bills is subject to the following limitations:

    (1)    The individual seeking assistance must be without utility service or the individual’s utility service must be due for disconnection.

    (2)    Payments may be made only for electric, water, sewer or utility deposit. Payments for utility deposits shall be made no more than one (1) time per household and shall be for a maximum of seventy-five dollars ($75.00). Payments shall not be made for fees of any kind including disconnection fees and reconnection fees.

    (3)    No more than six hundred dollars ($600.00) shall be paid in assistance for any individual in any twelve (12) month period.

    (4)    Disabled individuals are only eligible for the amount of assistance needed to avoid disconnection, for reconnection or for a deposit.  Senior citizens may apply for the annual maximum amount regardless of their account status.

(f)    Determinations of eligibility and the amount of assistance to be granted to applicants shall be made by the director of health services or the director’s designee, whose determination shall be final.

(g)    The director of health services is authorized to establish rules and regulations implementing the CASH program.

(Ord. No. 16630, § 1, 10-2-00; Ord. No. 18270, § 1, 10-4-04)