Effects of Shutdown Felt By Local Residents

The partial government shutdown enters its second month this week, with no apparent end in sight. Far from the political battle being waged in Washington, D.C., nearly 800,000 federal employees nationwide have been placed on unpaid leave or are working without pay. Locally, the federal government is the largest employer in the Kansas City area, with more than 18,000 employees. Valley News spoke to two Grain Valley residents who are directly impacted by the ongoing shutdown.

Grain Valley resident Julie and her fiancé Joe [last names withheld at their request] are relying on credit cards to cover daily expenses. Joe is considered an essential federal employee and is continuing to work full time without pay.

“Currently we are surviving with credit cards for day to day expenses. We have called our mortgage company and car loan creditors with the hopes of deferring payments during the shutdown. So far it sounds as if the only payment we can defer for February will be our mortgage payment after our water bill. I think our biggest concern is the interest charges we are going to accumulate while accruing this debt, or if we run out of credit before the shutdown is over. Honestly, it’s a financial nightmare because you are basically helpless and at the mercy of the government. You can’t draw unemployment or get another job because you’re still working your regular job, so you have no way to really make money to provide for your family,” Julie said.

“We have to tell our children that we can’t afford something as simple as getting something they want from the grocery store, or stopping to get lunch after a doctor’s appointment. It’s stressful knowing that you’re working but you may still get into a financial hole that could be difficult to dig out of later. Joe says he lucky he hasn’t had a heart attack from the stress,” Julie said.

Those working as government contractors find their situations even more tenuous.

A Grain Valley resident, who asked to remain anonymous, works for a government contractor and does not have the security of back pay when the shutdown ends.

“I am frantically looking for another job. Day to day is very nerve racking. We never know when we are going back to work. The lack of knowledge is the most frustrating and makes daily life very hard. With the weather keeping me home a lot, I have a lot of stress. I am leaning on family to help and I thank God for my family,” she said.

Donna Compton, Site Manager for the Grain Valley Assistance Council, has not yet seen an influx of residents affected by the furlough coming to the organization for assistance.

“We are pretty sure the people who will be affected the most are those who will get February food stamps now and none in February. February and March are months that we are not as busy, as many people have received their tax refunds and don’t need as much assistance. We are thinking it may be different this year,” Compton said.

Nationally, lenders and utility providers are developing programs to work with furloughed workers. The City of Grain Valley has also implemented a program to defer water and sewer accounts for affected citizens.

Mayor Michael Todd proposed a program to provide relief for affected citizens at the January 14th Board of Aldermen meeting. The program passed unanimously by the Board of Alderman allows federal government employees who are not currently receiving pay due to the shutdown to place their water and sewer accounts in deferment. The following qualifications must be met to request deferment:

Citizens are eligible for the deferment program if an impacted federal employee is the account holder or co-account holder;

Account holders or co-account holders with proof of current federal govt. employment credentials or ID are eligible;

Account will be in deferment, so City of Grain Valley water and sewer services will continue as normal with the City carrying the balance until the shutdown ends or a maximum of 6 months (July 15, 2019), whichever is shorter;

While in deferment, no late fees or penalties will be accrued;

Upon the end of the shutdown or on July 15, 2019, the account holder will have 30 days to either pay the balance due or arrange a repayment plan.

“The bottom line to this program is despite our differences, political beliefs or level of government, all public servants work to ensure the quality of life remains uninterrupted within our expected level of service,” Todd said. “It is because of that commitment to the public and each other, I feel it’s critical that we help each other, whenever it is possible.”

Residents who wish to qualify for the federal employee water/ sewer utility bill deferment program may do so by contacting the City of Grain Valley’s utility billing division, 816-847- 6280 or in person at 711 Main Street.

Local businesses have also taken the opportunity to show support for furloughed workers by offering a variety of discounts. The Kansas City Mavericks are offering $10 tickets to all furloughed government employees for this weekend’s games against the Utah Grizzlies.

“We felt like this was the right thing to do for our public servants who aren’t drawing pay through no fault of their own. We are happy to be extending this gratitude to furloughed government employees,” Brent Thiessen, our President & General Manager said.