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Council orders placement of delinquent refuse charges on tax roll; approves annual assessments and fire suppression levy
Summary
Council heard a staff report on delinquent refuse accounts (parcels reduced from ~1,570 to ~1,261; principal from about $537,000 to $462,000), then unanimously ordered placement of unpaid 2024 refuse charges on the 2025–26 property tax roll and approved related annual assessments including the fire suppression assessment, Community Services District (CSD) levies and consolidated landscape and lighting district assessments.
Murrieta — The City Council on July 1 held public hearings and approved a series of annual levies and assessments and ordered placement of delinquent refuse charges on the property tax roll.
Pedro, a management analyst in the city manager’s office, told the council that Waste Management mailed delinquent notices on June 2 and that the number of affected parcels dropped from about 1,570 to about 1,261 as property owners paid balances; outstanding principal fell from roughly $537,000 to about $462,000. Pedro said accounts not paid by the city’s July 25 deadline will be placed on the final delinquent roll and penalties and interest added.
Waste Management’s public sector manager Robert confirmed the figures and told council the number of delinquencies is within the typical annual range (about 1,100–1,300 eventually end up on tax rolls) out of roughly 31,000 customers.
After the public hearing, Council Member DeForest moved and Council Member Holliday seconded a motion to place the delinquent refuse service charges on the FY 2025–26 property tax roll; the motion carried unanimously 4–0. Council also opened and closed public hearings on the FY 2025–26 fire suppression assessment, Community Services District annual assessments (CSD) and the consolidated landscape and lighting district levy; staff recommended confirmation and collection on the tax roll, and the council approved the levies with the noted recusals recorded in the record.
Why it matters: Placing unpaid refuse charges on the property tax roll is the city’s established method for recovering unpaid franchise fees and helps preserve service continuity. The approved assessments support fire operations, flood/drainage, park/landscape maintenance and street lighting across benefit zones.
What’s next: The tax-roll placements and assessment levies will be implemented per staff recommendations and available appeals/process notices; staff and fee consultants remain available to answer constituent questions.
