Seattle Will Let Federal Workers Defer Utility Bill Payments

SEATTLE, WA - The partial federal government shutdown passed the 30-day mark over the weekend, and the city Seattle will begin allowing furloughed or unpaid workers to defer utility bills until the government reopens.

Mayor Jenny Durkan on Tuesday issued an executive order directing Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities, and other departments to "develop a plan to offer deferral of utility bill payments to federal employees" who have missed pay during the shutdown.

The city hopes to have a system in place by Friday for federal workers to apply for deferments. That's the same day federal workers will miss a second payday since the shutdown began in December.

There are some 800,000 federal workers nationwide going without pay, and about 54,000 in Washington alone, according to Durkan's office. There are 15 federal offices in the Seattle area that are wholly or partially shut down, including the IRS, the SeaTac detention center, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operations.

Local citizens, businesses, and governments have been attempting to help the out-of-work federal employees.

The Port of Seattle is collecting nonperishable food and household items at Sea-Tac. The local pizza restaurant Mioposto is offering discounts that climb higher with each day of the shutdown (for example, when the shutdown hits the 33rd day on Wednesday, federal workers will get 33 percent off at the restaurant). There have also been GoFundMe fundraisers set up and impromptu food drives.

"We are acting urgently to help support Seattle families being hurt by the Trump shutdown. But to truly help families and help Seattle, we need the White House to re-open the federal government today," Durkan said in a press release.

Patch file photo