Bay City forgiving bill discrepancies

Bay City — Bay City officials have voted to forgive water bill discrepancies amid residents’ questions of billing accuracy.

The Bay City Times reports the city commission voted 6-2 Monday to forgive all discrepancies in excess of 10 units of water. The resolution won’t go into effect until there is a second reading to change the city ordinance, which likely won’t happen until 2015.

Bay City Manager Rick Finn says no water shut-off notices will be issued until that ordinance amendment is approved.

Two commissioners sponsored a competing resolution to allow low income residents to apply for a waiver under existing rules, which tend to reduce a bill by about 56 percent when a qualifying discrepancy is discovered.