Letters to the Editor: Sewer Talk

Sewers and storm drains are often described interchangeably but they are different physical and financial entities. Why should you care? Because your tax bill includes the fees/service charges for the inspection, maintenance and repair of both systems.

On several occasions, for example, RPV city officials have talked about the need for a Sewer Fee/Tax. That should not be confused with the Storm Drain User Fee/Tax.

RPV owns and is responsible for about 80 percent of the city’s storm drains and thus 80 percent of the property owners pay the storm drain user fee.

The sewer system is different. As stated in an RPV budget document, “the city owns the sewer system within the city’s boundaries: however, Los Angeles County provides maintenance and repairs.” Your tax bill includes several charges/fees for storm drains and sewers in addition to the 1 percent general tax levy as follows where the dollar figures are typical.

Storm drain/flood control

Flood Control (paid to the county): $60

RPV Storm Drain User Fee (80 percent of property owners pay to RPV): $110

Sewers

Sanitation District 5: $130

Consolidated Sewer: $40

Sanitation District 5 is planning to increase the “service charge” for “operating, maintaining and upgrading the sewage system” by about 1.5 percent ($2 in the example). Those using septic tanks are excluded from this charge. The Consolidated Sewer “service charge” is “for the maintenance and repair of the sewer line in the street fronting your property whether you are connected or not.”

Why should the taxpayers of RPV be asked to pay an additional “sewer tax?"

It has been suggested that the county does not perform inspection, maintenance and repair in a timely manner. We are aware of one case in which a sewer problem caused more than $20,000 in damages to a homeowners' property. 

Approximately $75,000 was spent in FY ‘08-09 by RPV for a “more pro-active approach” in making capital improvement project proposals to the county. The resulting benefits are not known and there have been no subsequent expenditures.

It would seem to be appropriate for the city to request an accounting of the almost $3.5 million in RPV taxpayer dollars paid per year to the County of Los Angeles for sewer and flood control projects. It does not seem to be appropriate to pursue an additional RPV sewer fee/tax. 

—Don Reeves

Want to submit a ? Send them to meredith.skrzypczak@patch.com.