Spread Out Those Utility Payments over Time

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If you're having a hard time

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paying your winter water bill,

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you're probably dreading summer,

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when water use increases dramatically.

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But now, the City of Cortez has a solution

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to that higher summer water bill.

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You're watching the "Local News Network"

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brought to you by Keesee Motors in Cortez

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and FASTSIGNS of Durango.

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I'm Wendy Graham Settle.

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The City of Cortez now

offers an even-payment plan

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to make it easier for Cortez water users

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to pay their water and trash bills.

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It's called the Budget Billing Plan,

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and the city unveiled the

payment option this month.

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Under the plan, users can

opt to pay the same amount

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every month based on a

one-year billing cycle.

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If you pay more, you

will receive a credit.

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If you haven't paid enough,

you'll have to make up

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the balance at the end

of the 12-month cycle.

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Your bill may be more in winter

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than it's been when you pay

for water used that month,

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but it's likely to be less in summer.

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Utility billing clerk, David Schaak,

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says, "The city decided

to offer the option

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"because so many utility users

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"were having trouble paying their bills

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"as a result of lay-offs or

cut-backs during the pandemic."

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Usually, I

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do a,

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it's called a door-tagging

for late people,

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and then, in a couple days,

then it's time to shut 'em off

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for late payments.

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This year, since the

governor won't let us,

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we don't put

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late fees on, and we also don't

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shut anybody off, and we

just ask that they pay

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as much as they can,

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and

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I'll work with them as much as I can, but,

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you know, it's probably,

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the list is probably tripled

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since the COVID started.

There's a catch, of course.

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To participate, you must be up to date

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on your utility bills, and if you receive

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two delinquent notices during the year,

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you'll be removed from

the even-payment plan.

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The base bill for a residential water user

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is a little more than $46 for trash

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and the first 1,000 gallons used.

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Customers pay a little

more than three dollars

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for every 1,000 gallons

used after the base rate.

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Average bill for a family of

four is about $60 a month.

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Cortez provides water and trash services

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to about 3,700 customers.

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To learn more, contact David Schaak

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at utility.billing@cityofcortez.com.

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Thanks for watching this edition

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of the "Local News Network."

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Be sure to stay on top of

our latest news stories

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through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook,

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or "Our Local News" network websites.

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I'm Wendy Graham Settle.

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