Council member proposes changes to Toledo water billing - ToledoNewsNow.com: News, Weather & Sports for Toledo, OH

Toledo City Councilman Adam Martinez is proposing sweeping changes to the city's water billing system.

Three measures being introduced to council call for the city to switch to monthly billing, allow for a 30-day pay period instead of 15 days, and for allowing people renting property to set up accounts instead of only allowing property owners to set up accounts.

Martinez said his proposals are being made because the mayor is planning to place a water rate increase proposal before council and he thinks it's a good time to review the entire billing system.

"We need to make sure we're doing everything in our power to provide better customer service, and making sure bills are being sent out more regularly and customers are having more time to pay," he said.

The mayor's office said switching to monthly billing would cost the city an extra $2.5 million per year, and said the Martinez plan would not only slow down the pace of collections, but would make it harder to collect on delinquent accounts.   

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