photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St., Thursday, July 7, 2016

In the face of rising utility bills, Lawrence city leaders will soon discuss a possible expansion of the city’s utility assistance programs.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will discuss the city’s two utility assistance programs and potential options for expanding the assistance or discounts available to residents.

The city’s utility discount program currently serves residents 60 and older with very low income, and about $60,000 annually is used to provide a 65% discount to 75 households through that program, according to a city staff memo. Another program created last year is funded by donations from other utility customers, and has provided one-time utility assistance to 10 people so far, for a total of about $3,700 in assistance.

The city provides water, sewer and solid waste services for Lawrence residents. City utility rates have been increasing in recent years, with more increases planned. Commissioners indicated on Sept. 20 that they supported a water and sewer rate proposal that would increase rates by 8.75% next year, 10.25% in 2024 and 11% in 2025. The commission was scheduled to discuss a possible utility assistance expansion at that meeting, but Commissioner Amber Sellers initially proposed the discussion, and the commission deferred the topic because Sellers was absent.

The Lawrence City Commission will convene at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St.