City approves funds for water utility program

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Wednesday evening, the City of Yuma approved a program to continue helping locals in need to pay their water bill.

Technology and water utilities funding were approved and secured by the city council.

A whopping $6 million were approved and allocated for information technology products and services for the city.

These funds will maintain and secure technology to support the city’s tech needs.

Isaiah Kirk, with the City Of Yuma Information Technology Department, said, “We make sure we buy the right products and right solutions for the city, most of this is operational costs so it's already solutions we have in place.” 

It's been a year since the rollout of the city maintenance app, it's these types of advancements that provide ease of communication for city residents. 

Kirk mentioned, “The Click-Fix App was rolled out to the city last year. These funds actually keep that program going.” 

Water utilities and helping community members in need will continue, thanks to the approved funding. 

On Wednesday evening, the city council approved $100,000 to keep the water utility program afloat. 

An agreement with the Western Arizona Council Of Governments (WACOG), the program has been in existence for roughly five years.

Jeremiah McCall with the City of Yuma Utilities Department said, “What this allows is for somebody in the community who falls on hard times and have difficulties paying their bills for unforeseen circumstances, loss of job, a death in the family. We’re able to provide assistance to those people in the form of $250 per calendar year.” 

Through the program, last year alone it helped at least 250 households.

It’s much needed because the steady rise in cost for utilities is felt across the nation according to WACOG. 

"The city refers those clients to us, so they are referring those individuals or those family members that they know are struggling and may need the assistance as well," said Mia Armenta of WACOG.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for July 5.