ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 12, 1996 TAG: 9607120041
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PEARISBURG
SOURCE: CLAYTON BRADDOCK STAFF WRITER
Paying bills is never easy, including rent, home mortgage and car payments, and your credit card.
There is a difference when customers have to pay for public utility bills such as the daily pickup of trash and material for recycling. Most Giles County families pay the bill, but a few can't and have to turn to the county Board of Supervisors for help.
The difference comes when those on limited incomes can't pay or have to delay payment under specific county guidelines.
"We try to take care of those people in our lower-income families," said Roger "Butch" Mullins, Giles County administrator.
Just a few of the 4,000 residential customers - about 2 percent or 80 families - are required to verify their incomes and any pressing financial needs such as heavy doctor or pharmacy bills which prevent payment, Mullins said.
A few years ago, trash was delivered by residents to the nearest "green box," but those days are gone in favor of door-to-door pickup.
In those families under financial duress, a typical $24 monthly bill would be reduced to $12 and in some cases down to $8 or as low as $6 in special situations.
The county relies on a short form, which the family must bring to the county's offices for verification and in some cases additional detail provided by Health Department or social services specialists.
In the past, this process did not always prove successful, Mullins said. Recently, he said, the county has sent overdue bills to a collection agency. Annual loss of revenue has reached as high as $50,000, one county official estimated.
But using a collection agency has been much more successful, Mullins said. While the Public Service Authority - under director Tim Brown - took over over solid waste pickup July 1, the county will continue the task of billing until all due bills have been collected, Mullins said.
LENGTH: Short : 44 linesby CNB