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Tulare County directs tax collector to place delinquent water and sewer fees on 2026–27 tax roll
Summary
After staff presentations detailing notice steps and delinquency totals, the board voted unanimously to place delinquent water and sewer fees for several County Service Areas and the East Orosi CSD on the 2026–27 tax roll; payment deadline for affected accounts is July 31, 2026.
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors on July 21 directed the county tax collector to place delinquent water and sewer service fees for multiple County Service Areas and for the East Orosi Community Services District on the 2026–27 property tax roll.
Denise England, grants and resources manager for the Resource Management Agency, told the board the county has been notifying customers since April and May and mailed first and second notices in June and July. England reported a total of 198 delinquent accounts across the systems she reviewed, totaling $93,608 and representing about a 14.5% delinquency rate. She said updated numbers will be reflected as customers sometimes pay up to the July 31, 2026, deadline; any accounts unpaid after 4 p.m. July 31 will be transmitted to the tax collector for placement on the roll on August 10.
"Historically, we've had a delinquency rate around 14%," England said, adding that the county's systems differ from city systems because systems that only provide sewer service cannot simply shut off water to compel payment.
For the East Orosi Community Services District, England said delinquency rates are higher (about 15–16%) and that the county has been using ARPA funds to pump septic tanks to restore trust and service. For the Tarabella Sewer Maintenance District, the board approved annual collection of wastewater fees on the tax roll as a preventative measure to avoid future delinquencies.
Board members praised staff outreach and cost‑recovery rationale. Supervisor Valero commended England and her team for improved trust and management in East Orosi. The board moved to approve the staff recommendations: motions to direct the tax collector to place the listed delinquencies on the 2026–27 tax roll passed by recorded vote 4–0 (Supervisor McCarrie absent).
The staff presentation included a summary of additional service fees and penalties that will be added to parcels placed on the roll: audit/processing charges and a 10% penalty plus parcel‑based charges as permitted by Tulare County Ordinance 3604.
What this means: affected property owners who owe monthly utility charges should pay by 4 p.m. on July 31, 2026, to avoid having the delinquency appear on their property tax bill and incurring additional fees. The board record shows the action is intended as cost recovery for county‑administered water and sewer systems rather than a revenue‑raising measure.
