by Mary Rupert
The senior utility rebate program is proposed to expand in Kansas City, Kansas.
A Unified Government committee heard a proposal on Monday night that would expand the program to all ages. Those who earn less than $25,000 a year would qualify for a utility tax rebate under the proposed program.
The Economic Development and Finance Committee approved the proposal and forwarded it to the full UG Commission for more discussion, requesting it be placed on the nonconsent agenda.
As described by UG Chief Financial Officer Kathleen von Achen, the rebate program would not result in a large windfall for anyone, but it would offer a small amount of relief for the neediest.
Currently the program is for those Kansas City, Kansas, residents 65 and older who earn less than $25,000 a year. The recipients typically receive from $50 to $200 in a rebate payment. The maximum anyone could receive is $301, but few receive that much, according to UG officials. The proposed change would allow those KCK residents of any age who meet the income guidelines to apply.
Von Achen estimated an expanded utility rebate program could add an additional 1,500 persons with an additional cost of about $250,000.
According to UG staff, in 2019 the UG processed 745 applications for the senior utility rebates for $171,000; in 2020, the number dropped to 576 applications for $134,000; and so far this year, there were 533 applications for $127,000.
The program goes from Jan. 2 to March 31 each year, and the deadline for applications this year is over. The program currently covers those over 65 who live in Kansas City, Kansas, and have total household incomes of less than $25,000 a year. Eligible expenses included utilities such as BPU bills, natural gas bills, telephone bills, as well as sales tax.
Von Achen said it would be up to the UG Commission whether to change any of the details of the utility rebate program, such as changing the maximum household income to $30,000.
The utility rebate discussion drew a comment from Louise Lynch, a Kansas City, Kansas, resident.
“I can’t begin to tell you how horrified I am in the parameters being set forth,” Lynch said at the meeting.
If this were the 1950s, limits of $25,000 per household in a two-person household might work, but today, they don’t work, according to Lynch.
“If we want to be truly helping our community, those limits have to be raised,” Lynch said.
The information about the proposed utility tax rebate program was presented at the same time as information about creating separate classes for the PILOT fee, which is the first step in potentially lowering the PILOT fee for residents.
To see the earlier story about the PILOT fee, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/proposal-moves-forward-for-separate-classes-for-pilot-fee/.