Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Water Sewer topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tulare County places delinquent water and sewer charges for multiple districts on 2025-26 tax roll
Summary
After public hearings, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to place delinquent water and sewer service fees, penalties and auditors' collection charges for multiple county service areas and special districts onto the 2025-26 property tax roll, with a July 31 deadline for account holders to bring balances current.
Tulare County Board of Supervisors on July 22 held three public hearings and approved placing delinquent water and sewer service charges, related penalties and auditors' collection fees for several county-managed systems onto the 2025-26 property tax roll.
The board acted after staff outlined mailing and publication notices and a payment deadline of July 31. Denise England, grants and resources manager for the Resource Management Agency, told the board, "The payment deadline is July 31," and explained the notices, publication timeline and the county ordinance and state code that allow the county to place unpaid service fees on the tax roll.
The hearings covered: (1) County Service Areas (CSAs) 1 and 2 and associated zones of benefit (Delft Colony, Seville, Tonyville, Tuleville, Traver, Wells Tract and Yedam sewer and water systems); (2) the East Orosi Community Services District (drinking water delinquencies only); and (3) the Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District. Staff described outreach steps (billing statements, mailed notices and three newspaper publications) and said delinquent customers would have until July 31 at 4 p.m. to pay before accounts are sent to the auditor for placement on the tax roll on August 11.
Key figures and outcomes - County Service Areas 1 & 2: Total expected revenue for the systems is $743,530; $93,218 was delinquent at the time of the hearing (227 delinquent accounts). The board voted to place those delinquent fees, the $200 per-assessor-parcel benefit fee, $1 per assessor parcel and a 10% penalty on the 2025-26 tax roll. Motion by Supervisor Makari, second by Supervisor Eddie Valero; motion passed 4–0 with Supervisor Shuckling not voting because she was not in attendance.
- East Orosi Community Services District (drinking water): Staff reported an 11.9% delinquency rate, representing $2,595 in unpaid fees. The board approved placing the drinking water delinquencies, penalties and auditor charges on the tax roll. Motion by Supervisor Dennis Townsend, second by Supervisor McCarrie; motion passed 4–0 with Supervisor Shuckling not voting because she was not in attendance.
- Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District: Staff reported a roughly 16% delinquency rate, totaling about $23,795; the district has seen delinquency counts fluctuate (63 accounts in 2023, 34 last year, 54 this year). The board authorized placement of the delinquent sewer fees, penalties and auditor collection charges on the 2025-26 tax roll. Motion by Supervisor Eddie Valero, second by Supervisor Dennis Townsend; motion passed 4–0 with Supervisor Shuckling not voting because she was not in attendance.
Why it matters Placing unpaid user fees on the property tax roll is a common collection mechanism for publicly administered water and sewer systems. County staff said the county operates these systems on a cost-recovery basis and that unpaid fees reduce available funds for maintenance and upgrades; staff noted that when users do not pay, the county cannot maintain or improve infrastructure.
What the board directed next Board approval directs the tax collector to place delinquent service fees, delinquent penalties and auditors' collection charges on the 2025-26 tax roll for the identified systems if accounts remain unpaid after the July 31 deadline. Staff said August 11 is the date the auditor's office will receive roll materials for placement.
Public comment No members of the public testified on the three hearings during the board presentations; staff said they received no written correspondence for these items at the time of the hearings.
Votes at a glance - CSA 1 & 2 delinquent fees on 2025-26 tax roll: motion adopted 4–0 (Makari/Valero). Supervisor Shuckling not voting (absent). - East Orosi CSD water delinquencies on 2025-26 tax roll: motion adopted 4–0 (Townsend/McCarrie). Supervisor Shuckling not voting (absent). - Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District delinquencies on 2025-26 tax roll: motion adopted 4–0 (Valero/Townsend). Supervisor Shuckling not voting (absent).
Ending Accounts delinquent after July 31 will be forwarded to the auditor for placement on the 2025-26 property tax roll on August 11; board action sets the collection mechanism and associated fees and penalties to be charged on those properties.
