Financial Assistance Programs

for Homeowners in South Deschutes County

Nitrogen Reducing Onsite
Wastewater Treatment Rebate Program

The County has financial assistance monies available to provide financial assistance in the form of a partial rebate to property owners who have completed a retrofit of an existing onsite system serving a residence.. This program is dependent on available funds and the County may cease this program at any time.

Click on the links below for additional information:

Nitrogen Reducing System Grant Program Information
Application for Nitrogen Reducing Rebate

Handouts and Background:

Financial Assistance Advisory Committee

The Board of County Commissioners convened an advisory committee in February 2008 to provide recommendations for a financial assistance program. This program is intended to help residents of south Deschutes County offset the costs of installing groundwater protection measures. The County has identified about $35 million (see Financial Assistance Overview) to apply to drinking water protection actions in the region.

Pollution Reduction Credit Rebates

The Elk Horn Land Development PRC rebate program is currently on hold because they have purchased all the credits they need for their current phase of development. We will post updates to this program as they are available. If a property owner generates a PRC by upgrading their system, they will retain ownership of the PRC until such time that Elk Horn or other new neighborhood developer needs to start purchasing them. If you would like more information on whether your property is eligible for a PRC, please call the Environmental Health Division at 541-388-6575.

Funds available for system upgrades

Two organizations assist homeowners with needed home improvements including improvements to onsite systems:

The US Department of Agriculture has funds to help low income residents or fixed income seniors upgrade onsite systems through the home improvement loans and grants program. Call 541-923-4358, ext 130, or e-mail barrie.lasure@or.usda.gov for more information.

NeighborImpact offers multiple home improvement programs that use Community Block Grants to provide needed health and safety housing repairs to homeowners in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties. Each loan program offers homeowners a low interest, deferred loan secured by a note and a recorded trust deed. Homeowners must repay the loan once the house is rented, sold or refinanced. As loans are repaid, proceeds are returned to the program to provide loans for future homeowners. Currently the program services clients at or below 80% of county median income bracket. Projects include but are not limited to sewers, roofs, heating systems, handicap accessibility, and exterior paint.

For more information contact the Redmond Homeownership center at 541-548-2380 x111 or by email at homerehab@neighborimpact.org.

Future financial assistance programs being developed

The County, using funds from two grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency, will establish a loan fund that will be available to homeowners to help offset the costs of upgrading their systems. In addition, the County will establish a fund using proceeds from the development of the new La Pine Neighborhood, including the future sale of land in neighbhorhoods 3 and 4, to help offset the cost of ugrading onsite systems.

Project Links

.. Groundwater Protection Project Home

.. What's Required Now?

.. Background

.. Frequently Asked Questions

.. Project News

Financial Assistance

.. Financial Assistance for Groundwater Protection

.. Pollution Reduction Credit Program

.. Transferable Development Credit (TDC)

Wastewater Treatment Alternatives

.. Why Use Onsite Systems?