K’bunk might offer unique way to curb heating costs (Printed Jan. 18, 2008)
By Ashley St. Michel
Staff Writer
Kennebunk’s 2-year-old heating fuel assistance program could be getting revamped.
Selectmen debated using a parking ticket-to-fuel-assistance program in an effort to assist residents with the cost of heating. The ticket-to-fuel program would allow parking ticket fines received in Kennebunk to be put toward the assistance fund for families in town.
Kennebunk Town manager Barry Tibbetts said the idea came after he had heard about a similar program in Ontario, Canada.
The town currently collects fuel assistance vouchers for needy families in Kennebunk. Kennebunk Social Services Director Wanda Cannell said the voucher program collects funds designated for heating assistance each year from organizations and area churches. For 2007-2008, Cannell said the program has more than $20,000 to assist families. Cannell said with the $20,000, the town could supply heat assistance to more than 80 families in Kennebunk.
Tibbetts said the program wouldn’t interfere with budgetary issues, since the town already allocates roughly $20,000 from their general budget a year for the program.
“We generate about $20,000 a year in parking ticket revenue,” Tibbetts said.
Kennebunk allocates $15,000 each year for various heating assistance programs, but that number could change since selectmen decided to put an additional amount to vote at a special referendum in February. Selectmen will ask voters for an additional $10,000 each year on top of the $15,000.
Cannell said the additional $10,000 would supply more than 40 additional families on top of the 80 families already.
With the ticket program, the town would offer residents a box they could check if they wanted their ticket fines to go toward the heating assistance fund. Tibbetts said residents don’t have to put their ticket fines toward the assistance, but added the program would be a way the residents could send their money to families in Kennebunk who might need it most.
Cannell said the town has offered heating assistance programs in an effort to help families who don’t qualify for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). She said the program helps those families who don’t qualify for the federal funds but still need assistance for fuel. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program works with families with the lowest incomes that pay a high portion of household income for home energy. Cannell said residents who can’t receive federal help should benefit greatly by the ticket-to-fuel program.
Currently, the state has received more than 40,000 applications for federal heating aid according to the LIHEAP’s Web site.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program gives eligible Maine residents more than $500 to assist them in heating costs. According to the program’s Web site, the average household in Maine uses more than 860 gallons of heating oil in a season. Cannell said families who will benefit from the program include those who were ineligible to receive LIHEAP funds.
MaineHousing spokesman Dan Simpson said more than 4,000 households in Maine have applied for federal aid and been turned down. He said that with the prices of fuel hitting more than $3 a gallon, it is making it even more difficult for federal agencies to continue giving enough assistance.
Cannell said she couldn’t speak to how many of those households are in Kennebunk.
“That is why it is important for the towns to continue working toward heating assistance programs,” Simpson said.
Cannell commended selectmen for reviewing the current heating concerns and for working toward the ticket program.
Selectmen Chairman Wayne Berry said he was glad the town is thinking ahead about the program.
Simpson said another option for the town to consider would be to create a nonprofit committee, which would raise funds annually in an effort to help with assistance, but he added, the ticket program is a good step forward.
“Just to be helping out in any way possible is a great step in the right direction,” he said.
Selectmen will vote on the ticket-to-fuel program Jan. 22.
To contact Ashley St. Michel, call 282-4337 ext. 228 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.
Staff Writer
Kennebunk’s 2-year-old heating fuel assistance program could be getting revamped.
Selectmen debated using a parking ticket-to-fuel-assistance program in an effort to assist residents with the cost of heating. The ticket-to-fuel program would allow parking ticket fines received in Kennebunk to be put toward the assistance fund for families in town.
Kennebunk Town manager Barry Tibbetts said the idea came after he had heard about a similar program in Ontario, Canada.
The town currently collects fuel assistance vouchers for needy families in Kennebunk. Kennebunk Social Services Director Wanda Cannell said the voucher program collects funds designated for heating assistance each year from organizations and area churches. For 2007-2008, Cannell said the program has more than $20,000 to assist families. Cannell said with the $20,000, the town could supply heat assistance to more than 80 families in Kennebunk.
Tibbetts said the program wouldn’t interfere with budgetary issues, since the town already allocates roughly $20,000 from their general budget a year for the program.
“We generate about $20,000 a year in parking ticket revenue,” Tibbetts said.
Kennebunk allocates $15,000 each year for various heating assistance programs, but that number could change since selectmen decided to put an additional amount to vote at a special referendum in February. Selectmen will ask voters for an additional $10,000 each year on top of the $15,000.
Cannell said the additional $10,000 would supply more than 40 additional families on top of the 80 families already.
With the ticket program, the town would offer residents a box they could check if they wanted their ticket fines to go toward the heating assistance fund. Tibbetts said residents don’t have to put their ticket fines toward the assistance, but added the program would be a way the residents could send their money to families in Kennebunk who might need it most.
Cannell said the town has offered heating assistance programs in an effort to help families who don’t qualify for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). She said the program helps those families who don’t qualify for the federal funds but still need assistance for fuel. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program works with families with the lowest incomes that pay a high portion of household income for home energy. Cannell said residents who can’t receive federal help should benefit greatly by the ticket-to-fuel program.
Currently, the state has received more than 40,000 applications for federal heating aid according to the LIHEAP’s Web site.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program gives eligible Maine residents more than $500 to assist them in heating costs. According to the program’s Web site, the average household in Maine uses more than 860 gallons of heating oil in a season. Cannell said families who will benefit from the program include those who were ineligible to receive LIHEAP funds.
MaineHousing spokesman Dan Simpson said more than 4,000 households in Maine have applied for federal aid and been turned down. He said that with the prices of fuel hitting more than $3 a gallon, it is making it even more difficult for federal agencies to continue giving enough assistance.
Cannell said she couldn’t speak to how many of those households are in Kennebunk.
“That is why it is important for the towns to continue working toward heating assistance programs,” Simpson said.
Cannell commended selectmen for reviewing the current heating concerns and for working toward the ticket program.
Selectmen Chairman Wayne Berry said he was glad the town is thinking ahead about the program.
Simpson said another option for the town to consider would be to create a nonprofit committee, which would raise funds annually in an effort to help with assistance, but he added, the ticket program is a good step forward.
“Just to be helping out in any way possible is a great step in the right direction,” he said.
Selectmen will vote on the ticket-to-fuel program Jan. 22.
To contact Ashley St. Michel, call 282-4337 ext. 228 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.
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