Ohio House Bill 92 is currently under debate in Columbus, and Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr has expressed concerns about its potential impact on the city's management of delinquent utility accounts. In a recent episode of his podcast, "Chat with Mayor Matt," Starr discussed the implications of the bill.
"Now, I know 'utility billing policy' doesn’t sound thrilling. But stick with me, because this is about protecting your tax dollars and keeping your water, sewer, and sanitation services affordable and reliable. And if HB 92 becomes law, that gets a whole lot harder," said Starr.
The mayor explained that Mount Vernon provides water and sewer services to thousands of properties with the expectation that users will pay their fair share. However, when tenants fail to pay their bills and move out, some property owners do not cover the outstanding balances. Under current law, cities can place unpaid utility bills on the property tax duplicate to ensure eventual payment.
"But House Bill 92 would take that away. If this bill passes, cities like Mount Vernon would no longer be allowed to place unpaid utility charges on the tax bill," Starr said.
Starr emphasized that this change could lead to increased costs for responsible residents who pay their bills on time. "I want to be really clear here: HB 92 protects negligent property owners at the expense of responsible residents."
The mayor urged community members to voice their opposition to state lawmakers by calling or emailing their State Representatives. He also encouraged ongoing conversations about local government responsibilities through his podcast.
"That’s all for this episode of Chat with Mayor Matt. Thanks for tuning in, and thank you—as always—for caring about your community," concluded Starr.
Information from this article can be found here.
