Mayor Purzycki Says City Will Help Ease Financial Burdens for City Residents Employed by the Federal Government
January 24, 2019
U.S. government has been shut down for 34 days
Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki today announced a series of temporary payment options for City residents who are either Federal government employees or Federal government contractors and have been laid-off due to the Federal government shutdown. The shutdown is in day 34, and Mayor Purzycki said Wilmington will do what it can to ease the financial burden on local families who have been without work since December 22.
“None of us anticipated that this stalemate would go on this long, so we are taking steps to help City residents who are temporarily out of work,” said Mayor Purzycki. The Mayor said City residents who have valid Federal government employment and contractor credentials will be eligible for assistance. According to available Federal information, there are more than 500 federal government workers residing in Delaware, although it is not known how many of those live in Wilmington.
File Photo: Mayor Mike Purzycki gives remarks during an unveiling of A bust of Fred T. Johnson Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, at Warner Elementary school in Wilmington, Delaware. Photo By Saquan Stimpson
The Mayor said the City will defer payments for water/sewer/stormwater bills, eliminate penalties and interest for late payments, and establish payment plans for those who request one. To be eligible, Federal employees and Federal contractors must stop at the City’s Finance Customer Service Office on the first floor of the Louis L. Redding City/County Building Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. to present their federal government credentials. At that time, they can request a payment arrangement or deferred payment plan. The City will also work with federal employees on any other debt to the City that is directly related to the government shutdown. Once the shutdown ends, the City will assist citizens in returning to a regular payment schedule.
Mayor Purzycki said the payment options plan will be reviewed as the U. S. government shutdown continues to determine if any parts of it need to be revised. The Mayor today thanked 6th District City Council Member Yolanda McCoy for her concern regarding City residents who work for the shut-down government. McCoy telephoned the Mayor’s Office recently to inquire as to whether the City Administration was planning to assist laid-off City residents and learned that a payment options program was being established.