[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6641631,"mediaKeyId","3776500-5b23a93f68d5eb287f91f51cdbc5d0ac","parentId",3776500,"title","Board approves adding delinquent water, sewer and solid‑waste charges to property tax roll after public hearings","audioSeconds",810,"startMs",4771000,"endMs",5581000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3776500-5b23a93f68d5eb287f91f51cdbc5d0ac&start=4771&end=5581","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3776500-5b23a93f68d5eb287f91f51cdbc5d0ac/thumbnail_4771000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641631/San-Bernardino-County/California/Board-approves-adding-delinquent-water-sewer-and-solidwaste-charges-to-property-tax-roll-after-public-hearings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641631-92547f38398c01a778f8b002450e5ff9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144805&Signature=losDu5zYLRl~4u5PkwlJT-6jmuRp-zT7leVq6Ma-0zL~pxkZi0enZKkE9VQAzOdGa-v5AiGJuTCJ0qTFz~M6JMqxVuFGWFcChSysiSaW5jkbJf0WCx6dG5Aw9uOt1K4d6nFPJVHe5B~asE-evy-iH8mz-0SBdu1dNxFQ64ynzglRu-FZBfh789DKOKmgHifcxFq6yUHFZ7s34KpFKbo6qewGLLt59rzAiVKZf2TypVYpXecQ3XlDt7DnDggr5pTPGzy6sAD5oRvLW3~gg1sZc1A0~S~wAfgmBNq1tEHIz6MagRbbk-6ThAky0eiPIeV8YfdVky6KJYD96cpK-FUH0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-12T00:14:53.61Z","article","The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors held public hearings June 10 and unanimously approved placing delinquent water and sewer charges and delinquent solid‑waste handling fees on the county tax roll for collection if accounts remain unpaid after an August deadline.

Noel Castillo, director of the county Department of Public Works special districts, described the outreach and notification steps taken before tax‑roll placement and presented delinquency statistics. For water and sanitation accounts, Castillo said special districts mails regular bimonthly bills, 30‑day delinquent notices, 45‑day final notices and, for water accounts, disconnects service after 60 days failed payment. He told the board that as of the most recent count there were 182 delinquent water accounts out of 8,431 (about 2%) and 699 delinquent sanitation accounts out of 8,711 (about 8%), both declines from the prior year.

“In addition, all attempts by customers to contact special districts by phone or in person regarding the delinquent water and sanitation charges are actively offered a payment plan option,” Castillo said. He also told the board the county historically resolves roughly 25% of delinquent accounts before the final list is sent to the tax collector.

During public comment, Marine veteran Thomas Oakley described receiving an unexpected large sewer bill he had believed the mortgage company was handling and said the balance, late fees and penalties threatened his recovery progress. “I’m not here asking for a handout. I’m asking for a chance,” Oakley said, asking the board for relief or greater flexibility than a payment plan.

After public comment the board approved item 145—placing delinquent water and sewer charges on the 2025–26 tax roll if unresolved by the August deadline—by unanimous vote.

The board then heard item 146 regarding uniform solid‑waste handling fees. Castillo reviewed the county’s uniform handling policy, which was adopted to meet state diversion requirements and implemented across unincorporated areas; he said franchise haulers and the county notify customers and that accounts unpaid 90 days or more are subject to county collection and potential lien. Castillo reported approximately 6,614 delinquent solid‑waste accounts through March 2025 with about $2.6 million in unpaid fees, roughly a 9.6% delinquency rate—the lowest initial delinquency rate the department has recorded in 15 years.

Several public speakers said billing problems or automatic accounts had created unfair charges. Resident Bernardo Rodriguez, who said a hauler began service in his name after a tenant was evicted, told the board he had submitted documentation to stop service but continued to receive bills. Rodriguez criticized the system for charging property owners for service they did not request and asked to have his bill removed from the delinquency list.

The board approved item 146—placing delinquent solid‑waste handling fees on the tax roll if unresolved by the August deadline—by unanimous vote. Supervisors and staff noted haulers and special districts staff were available in the rotunda to assist customers after the hearing.

Why it matters: placing unpaid utility and waste charges on the property tax roll converts unpaid account balances into liens collectible with property taxes, a step that can resolve unpaid system costs but can also create hardships for owners and tenants. County staff emphasized notification, payment‑plan options and outreach; several residents requested stronger relief or changes to billing practices.

Next steps: Accounts that remain unpaid after the department’s stated August cut‑off will be submitted to the county tax collector for inclusion on the 2025–26 property tax roll; customers who resolve balances before that date will not be assessed on the roll.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County of San Bernardino Live Stream 06.10.25","oneSentenceSummary","Following public hearings, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to place delinquent water and sewer charges and delinquent solid‑waste fees on the 2025–26 property tax roll and to continue collection processes; residents asked for relief and changes to billing practices.","taxTitle","San Bernardino County, California","taxId",3825,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":78,"_47":79,"_49":80,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6641636,"San Bernardino County adopts $10.5 billion 2025–26 budget, boosts homeless services and hospital funding",0,6382000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3776500-5b23a93f68d5eb287f91f51cdbc5d0ac&start=6382&end=6382","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3776500-5b23a93f68d5eb287f91f51cdbc5d0ac/thumbnail_6382000.jpg","/articles/6641636/San-Bernardino-County/California/San-Bernardino-County-adopts-105-billion-202526-budget-boosts-homeless-services-and-hospital-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641636-93c38e3872505a222f6e84c2ef50cdaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144805&Signature=ckPq0fIL0B2tMXJy1hw1wHxUG55cbP1yFY67kr-6LV8K7E0JUlMXT8yGoU-AsyziiWb22ix-IiT6Kc-6iIyjRdeGnEabUJDZ8a1t4c3zmS9iDsaT6us7J31cKWIwKzEszKOwPENJ-55Kks312btMsbYHN68hcg7ryGj-vp-743Mwi3nN9f8mvdnymcVo~N-m2LZS97KaiA8qIO5uYI~Y2FzJWAZhWteopAjK82XopG2obycowbK20pxogF3aPXjggKmdMGVCifdYzZwh8oH-lWWlBsZ09qcPLRbockwPaLgPPZvjcmQp4stf2SFZPb8irBRcgyVJUYudURVSHYAgNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on June 10 unanimously approved the county’s $10.5 billion recommended budget for fiscal year 2025–26, with board members and staff highlighting new one‑time allocations for homelessness, wildfire prevention and infrastructure reserves.

County Chief Financial Officer Matthew Erickson presented the plan, saying the recommended budget totals about $10.5 billion and includes a mix of one‑time and ongoing resources. “We published our budget book, our recommended budget book, which incorporated the entire conversation of our $10,500,000,000 budget,” Erickson said.

The nut of the plan reallocated previously proposed additional retirement contributions and other one‑time funds. Erickson told the board the package includes a previously identified $205 million in new general‑fund investments (largely one‑time), roughly $15.6 million in newly proposed ongoing spending, and reallocated one‑time dollars: $7.5 million for board priority programs, $7.5 million for a wildfire prevention reserve, $3 million for an infrastructure reserve oriented to road improvements, and $2 million to an existing community services upgrade reserve. The administration also proposed that $150,000 of a tourism allocation be used for broader tourism purposes.

Board members and the administration framed the changes as prudent given market volatility. Luther, the county chief executive, explained insurance and pension pressures affecting recent budgets and noted actions to limit volatility. “We are seeing a $13,100,000 increase year over year or about 33% increase in our total insurances related to liability, workers’ comp, medical malpractice, and other insurances,” Luther said during the public meeting when describing rising insurance costs facing the county.

Erickson and Luther also described larger programmatic changes inside the recommended totals. The Office of Homeless Services was allotted roughly $45 million in additional resources for housing creation, rental assistance and services for people living in encampments. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is budgeted for a roughly $164 million increase to support an expanded range of medical services, including internal medicine, imaging and cardiology. Capital improvements fell in the recommended budget compared with the prior year—largely reflecting project cash‑flow timing—with a $125.9 million reduction in that category.

The administration described the county’s approach as intentionally cautious after several years of one‑time funding. Erickson noted the county set aside ongoing funds in prior years for retirement obligations and recommended a smaller additional contribution than previously discussed after May’s stronger market performance.

On staffing, Luther and Erickson said the county’s total budgeted positions are effectively flat for 2025–26 after several years of growth; Erickson estimated roughly 3,000 net new positions were added over the past three to four years but that current recommendations prioritize filling existing vacancies over large net increases.

Public commenters and community advocates spoke during the budget hearing. Desiree Sanchez of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and members of the IE Budget Advocacy Alliance praised funding for homeless services but urged the board to increase discretionary funding to the Office of Homeless Services; in her remarks she noted that a small share of the county’s discretionary general fund is currently allocated to that office. Interfaith organizer Ifeany Lockard thanked the board for funding and recommended broader community engagement during budget development.

The board voted to adopt the full recommended budget and then voted separately to approve the related fiscal year budgets for several dependent districts and agencies (listed below). All roll calls were recorded as unanimous approvals.

Votes at a glance (selected agenda actions taken June 10, 2025):
- Item 136 — Adopt county FY 2025–26 recommended budget (San Bernardino County): Passed unanimously (5–0). Motion by Vice Chair Baca. (See action details below.)
- Item 137 — Adopt FY 2025–26 budget for Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District: Passed unanimously (5–0).
- Item 138 — Adopt FY 2025–26 budget for Bloomington Recreation and Park District: Passed unanimously (5–0).
- Item 139 — Adopt FY 2025–26 budget for board‑governed county service area: Passed unanimously (5–0).
- Item 140 — Adopt FY 2025–26 budget for San Bernardino County Industrial Development Authority: Passed unanimously (5–0).
- Item 141 — Adopt FY 2025–26 budget for In‑Home Supportive Services Public Authority: Passed unanimously (5–0).
- Item 142 — Adopt FY 2025–26 budget for Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency: Passed unanimously (5–0).
- Item 143 — Adopt FY 2025–26 budget for San Bernardino County Fire Protection District: Passed unanimously (5–0).
- Item 144 — Adopt FY 2025–26 budget for San Bernardino County Flood Control District: Passed unanimously (5–0).

Why it matters: the adopted budget sets county priorities for housing and health services and creates dedicated one‑time reserves for wildfire prevention and infrastructure work while signaling restraint on adding baseline staffing. The board’s allocations will fund county hospitals, homeless services and targeted capital projects in the coming fiscal year.

The board adopted the budget during a public hearing and then approved each dependent district budget and related recommendations separately. The administration said documents supporting the recommended budget were published in the weeks before the hearing; staff and department leaders thanked board members for questions that staff said improved accuracy before adoption.","The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the county’s $10.5 billion 2025–26 budget on June 10, reallocating one-time funds to homelessness programs, wildfire prevention and reserves while keeping staffing broadly flat.","actionData","errors"]

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Board approves adding delinquent water, sewer and solid‑waste charges to property tax roll after public hearings

San Bernardino County adopts $10.5 billion 2025–26 budget, boosts homeless services and hospital funding