澳彩开奖

CHICKASAW, Ala. 鈥斅燭he city of Chickasaw, Alabama, is working with the 澳彩开奖 to nol pros (i.e., dismiss) pending criminal charges for delinquent sewer and garbage payments. As a good faith gesture, the city also is agreeing to place a moratorium on new prosecutions for residents who have fallen behind on their garbage and sewage bills.

鈥淭he well-being of the residents of this city is our top priority,鈥� said Nash Campbell, city attorney for Chickasaw. 鈥淲e recognize that many residents in our city are financially struggling and we plan to work with the 澳彩开奖 to address the concerns they have raised about the city鈥檚 garbage suspension policies and theft of services prosecutions.鈥�

鈥淐hickasaw is a beautiful city and we want to keep it that way by instilling measures that work with residents and not against them,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淟ike many of its citizens, the city is also financially hurting and trying to find ways to stay above water. In February, voters rejected a proposed millage increase that would have helped fund city services and personnel,鈥� Campbell said. He noted that 鈥淐hickasaw currently has some of the lowest ad valorem taxes in the state.鈥�

Earlier this month, 澳彩开奖 attorneys sent a letter to the city of Chickasaw outlining why prosecuting residents for late trash and sewage bills violates state and federal law. The letter asked that the city rescind an ordinance that authorized up to a $500 fine and 10 days in jail if a person failed to pay their garbage or sewage bills. After reviewing the 澳彩开奖鈥檚 letter, Chickasaw agreed to review its billing notices and suspension policies, dismiss all pending criminal charges related to billing, and to place a moratorium on new prosecutions for residents who fall behind on their garbage and sewage bills.

鈥淲e are pleased that the city of Chickasaw will no longer prosecute people for late payment of their garbage fees and will examine its suspension policies,鈥� said 澳彩开奖 Senior Staff Attorney Micah West. 鈥淲e commend the city for responding to the concerns raised by its residents struggling to make ends meet. 澳彩开奖 looks forward to working in good faith with city leadership to ensure that no one is punished simply because they are experiencing poverty.鈥�

The 澳彩开奖 campaign to end prosecution for nonpayment of trash fees began in Valley, Alabama. Between 2004 and 2021, nearly 600 people had been arrested for falling behind on their garbage bills. In 2023, the 澳彩开奖 successfully persuaded the Chambers County, Alabama, district attorney to stop criminally prosecuting people who fall behind on their garbage bills; to rescind all warrants; and to remit any fines and costs.