AUBURN - After considering changes to a bylaw designed to give the city more teeth, the council may show more bark than bite when it comes to water billing.

The Auburn City Council directed Comptroller Lisa Green not to send out a second round of notices to people who are delinquent with their water bills until they can rethink a measure giving the city the power to shut off water.

Surprised by the number of debtors, council wondered during Thursday's meeting about the logistics of turning off water in 300 homes. The city sent 600 30-day notices and half the people called to either pay or make arrangements to settle the outstanding amount.

Green asked how to proceed with the remaining 300 residences. The 60-days-late notices state city crews will stop supplying water in 10 days unless the delinquent homeowners clear their debts. With 20 days to pay the original bill, the process allows a person three months before taking the last step.

In August, the council approved the measure granting the city authorization to shut off water to people who ignore two notices, besides the original bill, stating they owe money. The city previously added the debt to the homeowners' taxes.

City officials wanted to agree on a policy to enforce this so no one gets treated “unfairly,” corporation counsel John Rossi said.

City manager Mark Palesh authorized Green to work with customers who can't pay their debt in a lump sum. However, this is a labor intensive process because the water billing employees have to go through each file to see if there are notes of compliance to determine who should get a notice, Green said.

The process of turning off water also is labor intensive, and likely would require workers to work overtime, she said in response to question from councilor William Graney.

When the debt goes on the taxes, the city earns 15 percent of the bill, when - or if - it's paid. However, those taxpayers deny the city access to its money it could invest and earn interest on, Green added.

“I don't want to send the letters unless we follow through and shut the water off (of those who still ignore the notices). Otherwise, what's the point,” Green said.

In other news:

* Green gave a presentation projecting the city's financial situation and said it's pretty much on target.

The projections consist of calculations of the figures from the fiscal year's first three months as well as educated guesses. Sales tax has been coming in even with last year, causing a problem as the city budgeted for an expected $375,000 increase, partially for a proposed sales tax agreement with Cayuga County, and some for anticipated economic growth.

The pension bill may give the city a break. The estimates have come in less than what the city budgeted. Also, Green admitted she was conservative on the financial plan after getting caught short previously.

The solid waste fund is one of two funds not doing well, Green said. Companies' fees are down but sanitation supervisor Michael Talbot hasn't pushed the companies to bring more because of the unfinalized arrangement to build another trash container and potential space issues.

Also, the hydro-electric fund is almost dried up because of the lack of revenue generated this year.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net