Fort Smith to expand qualifications for low-income water bill program

FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The city of Fort Smith will expand qualifications to a program that helps residents pay their water bill.

The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted on July 16 to increase the qualification levels for Project Concern which helps low-income residential water utilities customers.

People who qualify see a 50% discount on water and sewer and a 25% discount on solid waste services.

The board has voted to increase qualifications from 165% of the federal poverty guidelines to 200%.

“Their budget depends on every single dollar that comes in, and so we wanted to help residents in Fort Smith be able to pay for some of those increases and the costs that are associated with it,” said Josh Buchfink, public relations manager for the city of Fort Smith.

Buchfink says the move comes as the board voted to raise water rates last week since it was costing the city more than it was taking in.

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