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Council approves placing $149,315.70 in delinquent sewer and water charges on Nevada County tax roll; 4–1 vote
Summary
After a lengthy public exchange, Grass Valley City Council voted 4–1 to request Nevada County collect delinquent sewer and water charges totaling $149,315.70 on the county property tax roll; the item drew public comment and debate over enforcement and hardship.
The Grass Valley City Council adopted a resolution Tuesday requesting Nevada County place delinquent sewer and water charges on the county property tax roll, approving a list of 90 accounts totaling $149,315.70. The motion passed on a 4–1 roll-call vote.
A staff member told council this is an annual collection procedure permitted by state law and that the county—s teeter plan will pay the city up front while the county pursues later collection. "This is not a new tax," the presenter said, adding that the Health and Safety Code, section 5473, allows cities to place unpaid utility charges on property tax rolls as a collection method.
The staff presentation included operational details: property owners were notified per state law; payment arrangements were offered; and as of the meeting there were 90 accounts eligible for roll placement totaling $149,315.70. Staff said the list would be uploaded to the county by Aug. 10; payments received before upload would be removed from the list.
Public commenters and council members debated enforcement and hardship. Resident Dawn Bateman told the council she was "truly appalled" that a council member had argued that not paying a water bill is a constitutional right, and urged stronger enforcement and adoption of an enforcement policy. Council member Joe Bonamalo countered that many residents are struggling and that some accounts merit additional review or assistance. "Water is a right. It's an unalienable, uninfringable right," Bonamalo said, while also saying he did not seek to absolve all delinquent accounts.
Mayor Hodge and other council members emphasized that staff makes collection efforts and offers payment plans, and that the procedure is a standard method to recover unpaid charges so other ratepayers are not subsidizing unpaid services. Council member Arbuckle and Vice Mayor Caravelli spoke in favor of moving the item forward as routine; Arbuckle noted the list had been reduced from an earlier 103 accounts. When the roll-call vote was taken, Council member Arbuckle, Council member Ivy, Vice Mayor Caravelli and Mayor Hodge voted yes; Council member Bonamalo voted no. The motion carried 4–1.
Council directed staff to proceed with uploading the eligible accounts to Nevada County for inclusion on the property tax roll and to remove any accounts that pay prior to the county upload deadline.
