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Sanitary District approves lien program for delinquent trash bills as residents raise franchise, customer‑service concerns
Summary
The Garden Grove Sanitary District approved placing delinquent refuse charges on the county property tax roll after staff said the list had fallen to 1,011 parcels totaling about $262,193. Public commenters and board members pressed Republic Services and city staff about franchise renewals, billing and outreach to landlords and seniors.
The Garden Grove Sanitary District board voted Thursday to authorize placing delinquent refuse collection and disposal charges on the Orange County property tax roll after a public hearing featuring resident complaints about billing and the city’s exclusive franchise with Republic Services.
Finance Director Patricia Song told the board the first delinquent report, produced in late May, listed 1,801 parcels with unpaid balances ranging from $27 to $1,125. Republic Services then worked with customers and collections and, as of the day before the meeting, 790 customers had paid. Song said the number of delinquent parcels fell to 1,011 and the total outstanding amount declined 38% to about $262,193. Staff told the board customers can pay to clear accounts through July 14, 2025, and parcels paid in full by that date will be removed from the list submitted to the county.
Song described the process: under the state health and safety code, delinquent refuse charges may be filed with the county auditor‑controller with a 10% penalty and then collected through the property tax roll. She said the district required a public hearing and translations of notices for Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese communities. The board approved the resolution to collect outstanding refuse charges on the tax roll by a standard vote (motion received: 7 yes votes).
Public commenters pressed several concerns. Multiple speakers, including a vocal resident identified as Victor, argued the city allowed Republic Services to continue an exclusive franchise without a competitive bid and that Garden Grove rates were substantially higher than surrounding jurisdictions. Victor urged the city to reconsider and to put the service out to open bid. Several other callers described landlord/tenant billing mismatches — owners receiving liens when tenants failed to pay — and asked that owners receive clearer notices; one caller, Noel Perez Jr., presented money‑order receipts and said a previously mailed payment had not been recorded.
Republic Services representatives told the board the company can and does work with customers on payment plans, and that the company assigns representatives to make live calls and help residents who have difficulty with automated notices. Company staff and city staff said they will continue outreach and case‑by‑case assistance for seniors or residents with hardship; they said the city can consider policy or administrative changes but that the company’s billing and collection procedures are governed by the franchise agreement and by law.
Why it matters: Collecting unpaid trash charges through the tax roll affects property owners and can create liens that complicate sales and refinancing. The public hearing and comments also highlighted broader concerns about franchise procurement, customer service, and how landlord‑tenant billing is handled in Garden Grove.
