Pflugerville Aims To Help Low-Income Residents With Utility Bills

PFLUGERVILLE, TX — Pflugerville officials have scheduled a public hearing next week centered on a "substantial amendment" to this year's Community Development Block Grant program, namely to add funds to the mix to help residents cover their utility bills.

The public hearing on the matter is scheduled next Tuesday (Nov. 24). The proposed change would include adding up to $158,241 in Community Development Block Grant funds aimed at helping Pflugerville residents financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic with emergency one-time or short-term (no more than three months) payments to cover utility payments covering water, wastewater and trash bills, officials said in an advisory.

Additionally, city officials have proposed funding a program that will provide internet access to seniors 62 years and older who would otherwise not have access. The proposal calls for recipients to receive a tablet and internet access for a year along with training on how to use the former if necessary, officials explained.

The first public hearing on the matter took place last Tuesday. Given current restrictions spurred by the pandemic, public hearings will either be held at City Hall Council Chambers, 100 E. Main St., Suite 500, or by video/telephone conference, officials said. The agenda for each public hearing will be posted 72 hours prior to the public hearing date, officials added.

City of Pflugerville Community Development Citizens Participation provisions require reasonable notice of a proposed "substantial amendment" to ensure residents have the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed action. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allowed a waiver due to the coronavirus allowing for a comment period extended to residents to be no less than 5 days in advance, officials said.

The 2020 Amended Annual Action Plan will be available for public review and comment through Nov. 24 via the City of Pflugerville website.

Accommodations for disabled or non-English speaking residents will be made available upon advance request to (512) 990-6300 or planning@pflugervilletx.gov.

One of the longest-running HUD programs, the Community Development Block Grant funds local community development activities toward providing affordable housing, anti-poverty programs and infrastructure development.