REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 26, 2022
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing Regarding Placement of Delinquent Water and Sewer Charges on the 2022-23 Tax Roll for Collection
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body for all County Service Areas and Improvement Zones providing water and sewer services:
1. Conduct a public hearing regarding the placement of delinquent water and sewer charges on the 2022-23 Tax Roll for collection.
2. Adopt Resolution confirming report of delinquent water and sewer charges as on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
3. Authorize the Department of Public Works - Special Districts to submit the Report of Delinquent Water and Sewer Charges to the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector for placement of the delinquent charges on the 2022-23 Tax Roll and to remove and/or adjust the amounts listed on the report for any payments or required corrections to the delinquent accounts that occur prior to placement on the 2022-23 Tax Roll.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Based on the Accounts Receivable Aging Report as of June 29, 2022, the total amount of delinquent charges for placement on the 2022-23 Tax Roll is $625,912.67 for 1,709 accounts. However, it is likely that this amount will ultimately be less as more water and sewer customers decide to pay the delinquent charges rather than having them added to the tax roll for collection. Revenue from delinquent charges is included in the 2022-23 budget for the respective County Service Areas and Zones (Districts).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department of Public Works - Special Districts, Water and Sanitation Division (Division) provides water and sewer services in various unincorporated areas throughout the County. These services are provided through Board Governed County Services Areas (CSA) and are funded primarily by revenue from service charges. The recommended actions will authorize the collection of delinquent charges through the tax roll by allowing the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (ATC) to place the delinquent charges on the 2022-23 Tax Roll in accordance with Government Code Section 25215.5 and existing Rules and Regulations for water and sewer services. The deadline for ATC to process the 2022-23 Tax Roll is August 10, 2022.
Placement of delinquent charges on the tax roll allows the Division to collect past due charges necessary to ensure the fiscal solvency of the impacted Districts. The following table reflects the amounts of delinquent charges (as of June 29, 2022) by District for placement on the 2022-23 Tax Roll:
|
District |
Service |
Delinquent Amount |
|
CSA 42 (Oro Grande) |
Water and Sewer |
$ 14,827.68 |
|
CSA 53 B (Fawnskin) |
Sewer |
$ 43,875.38 |
|
CSA 64 (Spring Valley Lake) |
Water and Sewer |
$ 98,906.15 |
|
CSA 70 BL (Bloomington) |
Sewer |
$ 2,857.34 |
|
CSA CG (Cedar Glen) |
Water |
$ 6,424.63 |
|
CSA 70 GH (Glen Helen) |
Sewer |
$ 86,015.89 |
|
CSA 70 F (Morongo Valley) |
Water |
$ 1,002.57 |
|
CSA 70 J (Oak Hills) |
Water |
$ 74,928.54 |
|
CSA 70 SP-2 (High Country South Hesperia) |
Sewer |
$ 468.34 |
|
CSA 70 S-3 (Lytle Creek) |
Sewer |
$ 34,903.08 |
|
CSA 70 W-3 (Hacienda) |
Water |
$ 11,638.05 |
|
CSA 70 W-4 (Pioneertown) |
Water |
$ 1,109.78 |
|
CSA 79 (Green Valley Lake) |
Sewer |
$ 45,636.20 |
|
CSA 82 (Searles Valley) |
Sewer |
$ 203,319.04 |
|
|
Total |
$ 625,912.67 |
Pursuant to Government Code Section 25215.5, a public hearing is required by law to permit individual property owners an opportunity to respond to the delinquent charges and the placement of these charges on the tax roll. Customer service staff actively made contact by phone and mail to notify customers of their past due amounts. The required notices have been published and mailed to the affected property owners and the Report of Delinquent Water and Sewer Charges for collection on the 2022-23 Tax Roll has been filed with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
Division staff will be available on the day of the hearing (in the Yucca Room adjacent to the Board of Supervisors Chambers) to meet with those customers that received notices and to answer any questions they may have.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Linda Santillano, Chief Deputy, 382-3189) on July 7, 2022; County Counsel (Aaron D. Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 30, 2022; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on July 5, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on July 11, 2022.