SR-212-003 (8)
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2/2-D03
Santa Monica, California, April 22, l~~B 2 2 j"'QIJ
INFORMATION
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TO:
Hayor and City Council
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FROH;
City Staff
Report on Senl0r Cltizen Utllity Tax Rebate Program
SUBJECT;
INTRO DUCTIO~~
This report provides (ounell wlth the various methods used by staff to
notify senior citizens about the Util1ty Tax Rebate Program.
BACKGROUND
Various mediums, such as radio, newspapers and the Clty'S Seascape, are
utilized as well as notices posted on bulletin boards at varlOUS Recreation
Centers. llbraries, and Senior Citlzens. Centers to notlfy senior citizens
about the Utility Tax ~eb3te Program. Application forms for utility tax
rebate wlll be available at the above locatlons. These forms wlll also be
available at the various utility companies' offices.
The utility companies ~all their bills on a regional basis and it would be
an i~possible task to separate Santa Monlca City fro~ the system and insert
Utl11ty Tax Rebate rotices in the billings. The Water Department bllls on
a bi-monthly billing cycle so the rebate flyers would be too late for this
years program. The Water Department contends that three~fourths of their
billings are to absentee owners. which means that rebate notlces with the
water bills would be ineffective. Some flyers may be distributed through
a list of citizens' participatlon groups whose names were provided in
conjunction with t~e CDBG program.
Since May of 1976, the Flnance Department has administered the Senior
Citizen Utllity Tax Rebate Program. The refunds average $15.00 per
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Mayor and.City C~il
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A1W 22, 1980
household and checks are currently issued immediately. In 1~79 1,306 refund
checks were issued totaling $17,832.92. In 1978 1,000 refund checKs were
issued totallng $15,482 and in 1977 1,100 refund checks were issued
totaling $15,003. If applicants do not have bllls or receipts they are
given $9.00 or $12.00, depending on the number of persons in the household.
If an individual cannot come to City Hall, the City sends a person to their
home to insure they receive the rebate. In addltion to this refund, the
City provides information, application forms and counseling on other State
and Federal refund programs for the elderly. In addition, through our
outreach program, over flfty shut-ins were identified and have been
referred to the various social agencles within the City.
The City has used senlor clt;zens to process and assist the applicants.
The cost of administration for the three preVl0US years have averaged
S3~OOO. ThlS year we have Just hired four senlor citizens as Accountlng
Clerk Is at salary of $5.29 per hour. They wlll work from 9:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. daily at City Hall and various senior citizens' apartment
complexes as needed.
Prepared by:
Kay Watanabe~ Actlng Director of Flnance