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

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.