San Bruno council adopts sewer service charge collection on property tax roll

The San Bruno City Council adopted a resolution authorizing collection of sewer service charges for fiscal year 2025–26 on the San Mateo County property tax roll, a step staff said will continue a practice adopted last year that dramatically reduced delinquencies.

Nick Pegueros, Administrative Services Director and chief financial officer, told the council the action would authorize collection of approximately $19,600,000 in sewer charges for the coming fiscal year and transmission of the levy to the county auditor‑controller so the charges appear on property tax bills. Pegueros said the city updated service charges to reflect winter water‑consumption and made adjustments for suspected water leaks; income‑qualified rate reductions were applied where eligible. He said the change to property‑tax collection reduced sewer delinquencies to roughly $13,000 for the entire city.

Resident George Martin testified that the city’s billing method ‘‘guesstimates’’ sewer charges by averaging winter consumption then projecting it forward, and he said the timing and size of property‑tax charges can impose financial hardship. Pegueros responded that the methodology is based on a rate‑study consultant, has been in use for more than two decades, is generally accepted, and that an appeal process exists to address vacancies, leaks and other anomalies.

After discussion and clarification about notices and how residents can look up parcel charges, the council moved, seconded and adopted the resolution unanimously (5–0). Staff said charges will be included in property tax bills delivered starting in October and that owners may pay in the usual December/April installments.