BOARD OKS IMPOSING LIENS ON DELINQUENT BILL PAYERS

RIVERSIDE

The Board of Supervisors has approved imposing special assessments totaling $2.94 million on thousands of Riverside County residents’ property tax bills to collect unpaid trash collection debts.

In a 5-0 vote without comment June 27, the board signed off on Department of Environmental Health Director Jeff Johnson’s request for the liens to be applied.

According to Johnson, 5,664 residents in unincorporated communities owe the county’s four waste haulers for rubbish pickup and disposal services in 2022.

Amounts in arrears range from about $21 to $2,500 per customer, according to the special assessment roll.

The assessments will now be tacked onto delinquent payers’ annual property tax obligations.

“The regular removal of solid waste from residential properties is a basic sanitation practice that protects both the environment and the public,” Johnson said in documents posted to the board’s agenda. “The mandatory collection of solid waste and the payment for the collection is critical.”

No ratepayers appeared to argue against the assessments.

In the past, petitioners have presented appeals to the board based on the fact that they oversee their own waste disposal and shouldn’t be on the hook for the waste haulers’ costs. Sometimes, properties are also under lease, and the owners aren’t responsible for paying trash disposal charges.

With approval of the special assessments, an additional $77-per parcel charge will be applied to delinquent bills to cover the cost of public noticing and county staff time.

According to officials, residents can avoid the supplemental charge by paying their bills in full on or before July 21.