Grand Terrace council approves placing delinquent refuse and sewer charges on county tax roll; authorizes collection agreements through 2031

The Grand Terrace City Council on July 14 voted to authorize the county to place delinquent refuse and sewer charges on the San Bernardino County property tax roll and approved related five-year collection agreements.

Shanita Tillman, Grants and Government Affairs Manager in the City Manager’s Office, told the council that as of June 30 there were 244 delinquent residential refuse and sewer accounts totaling just over $126,000 and 14 delinquent commercial sewer accounts totaling just over $33,000. Tillman said account holders have until July 28, 2026 to bring their accounts current before charges are forwarded to the county tax roll.

The staff recommendation asked the council to adopt a resolution for fiscal year 2026–27 to place delinquent refuse and sewer charges on the tax roll and to approve two five-year tax-roll collection agreements: a city tax-roll collection agreement and a sewer-district tax-roll collection agreement covering 2026 through 2031. "All delinquent account holders have until 07/28/2026 to bring accounts current," Tillman said.

Councilmember Jeff Allen asked whether the agreements change how delinquent accounts are collected or whether the city will need to return to council for the county agreements before 2031. Tillman clarified that the agreements are administrative arrangements between the city and the county that allow the county to place charges on the tax roll; collection of tax bills is handled by the county tax collector. "The agreement has nothing to do with the payment of the delinquent accounts," Tillman said; the agreements authorize the county to add the charges to property tax bills and do not change the underlying collection process.

Councilmember Brown noted that the county tax collector, not the assessor, places the charges on tax bills and explained that many delinquent charges are ultimately resolved through mortgage impound accounts or payment after receipt of a tax-sale notice.

A motion to approve the staff recommendations was made by Councilmember Jeff Allen and seconded by Councilmember Brown; the motion passed. The council will receive its regular annual report on delinquent accounts in future meetings and the approved agreements remain in effect through 2031 unless modified by future council action.

The city’s next regular council meeting is scheduled for July 28, 2026 at 6 p.m.