Tulare County approves first sewer-rate hike for Terra Bella since 1996 to cover operations and debt

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted July 15 to adopt an adjusted wastewater service fee schedule for the Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District, the first increase for the system since 1996.

Denise England, Program and Resources Manager for the county Resource Management Agency, told the board the district serves about 520 accounts and has been operating at a deficit. “Current rates have fallen behind the cost of service,” England said. The board approved option A, starting an adjustment effective Aug. 1, 2025 that raises the monthly single-family residential charge from $21 to $27 and phases additional increases through fiscal 2029–30, when the single-family monthly bill is projected at $51.96.

The county invested about $750,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to repair the district’s wastewater treatment plant and collection system, England said, and the new rates are intended to maintain those upgrades and build reserves for future capital projects. England described recent work paid from that investment — sludge removal, aerator replacement and lift-station repairs — and said beginning in fiscal year 2027–28 the district will use rate revenues to fund roughly $140,000 annually in routine maintenance and equipment replacement.

Financial projections in the rate study estimated annual operating costs of about $190,000, an annual debt service payment of about $55,000 and inflation assumptions including 6% for electricity. England said without the rate adjustments the system would continue to rely on loans or county subsidies. “With just the 30% increase we’re proposing for the fiscal year we’re in now, the system covers operations and debt service,” she said.

Under California law governing local fees (Proposition 218), the county mailed notices and held a public meeting in Terra Bella; no majority protest was filed. The clerk reported that no affected parcels submitted protest ballots, and the board adopted the rates by a 4–0 vote, with Supervisor Larry McCarrie absent.

The board also directed staff to return Aug. 5 with an item to place the charge on the property tax roll to improve collection efficiency. England said some accounts (the school district, housing authority, fire department and road yard) will continue to be billed annually outside the tax roll system.

Supporters of the rate adjustment, including county staff, framed it as necessary to avoid drawing on the general fund or a county revolving loan and to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory sampling and reporting requirements. No members of the public spoke at the hearing.

The adopted multi-year schedule aims to bring the district’s revenues to a level that funds operation and reserves by fiscal 2029–30, according to the rate study.

The board’s motion to approve option A was made by Supervisor Dennis Townsend and seconded by Supervisor Amy Shucklian; the motion passed 4–0 with Supervisor Larry McCarrie not voting because he was not in attendance.