SLIDE 1
Portland Utility Board
July 7, 2020
Cecelia Huynh, Finance & Support Services Director Gabriel Solmer, Deputy Director
1
COVID 19 Impacts
2
- Workforce
- Financial Assistance
- Revenue Impacts
- Cost Controls
- Moving Forward
Portland Utility Board July 7, 2020 Cecelia Huynh, Finance & - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Portland Utility Board July 7, 2020 Cecelia Huynh, Finance & - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Portland Utility Board July 7, 2020 Cecelia Huynh, Finance & Support Services Director Gabriel Solmer, Deputy Director 1 COVID 19 Impacts o Workforce o Financial Assistance o Revenue Impacts o Cost Controls o Moving Forward FY 2020-21 Rate
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
Workforce
3
- Nearly half of the workforce is teleworking
- Field crews –
- Quaranteam – limit same staffing to small groups
- Limited # of employees per vehicles
- Cleaning protocols
- Personal protective equipment – gloves, face
coverings, etc
- Restrict access to key treatment and operations
facilities
- Customer Service –
- Staff are teleworking and assisting customers
SLIDE 4
Financial Assistance
4
- Ceased all shut-off
- Restored water service
- Waived reconnection fees
- Suspended late fees charges
- Halted debt collection
- Offering no interest, flexible payment plans
- Relaxed qualification requirements for Financial
Assistance
- Small Business Program for Utility Relief
SLIDE 5
FY 2020 Revenue Impacts
5
- Demand
- Commercial class
- Estimated $3.5 million
- Late Fees Revenues
- No shut offs
- Estimated $735,000
- Financial Assistance
- Low Income Discount
- Bad Debt
- Accounts Receivable
SLIDE 6
FY 2020 Costs Control
6
- Suspended merit pay increases for non-
represented employees
- Limit recruitments to position meeting critical
needs criteria
- Suspended all travels
- Maximize on-line trainings
- Minimize materials and supplies purchases
- Seek reimbursements for COVID-19 related
expenses
SLIDE 7
Moving Forward
7
- Workforce
- Support teleworking for as many staff as
possible
- Support staff that must report to city work
sites with strict operating protocols
- Closely monitor financial status
- Monitor demand to project revenue shortfalls
- Take early action to control costs
- Financial Assistance
- Continue to support customers
SLIDE 8
FY 2020-21 Rate Increase
8
- 8.6% rate increase with Requested Budget
- Mayor’s Proposed Budget Adjustments
- Non-Represented Personnel Costs reductions
- Eliminated 11 added field positions
- No inflationary adjustments for materials & services
- Reduced debt service on next revenue bonds
- Reduced Interagencies and General Fund Overhead
- Council approved 6.5% rate increase