CSD Board of Directors Approves Water and Solid Waste Rate Changes; Sewer Rate Decision Pending Protest Count
The CSD Board of Directors has approved rate adjustments for the district’s Water and Solid Waste systems. The new rates will go into effect on April 1, 2026. A proposed change to Sewer rates remains on hold while protest votes are being counted and verified.
Both the sewer and solid waste funds have been operating at a deficit with insufficient funds for anticipated infrastructure improvements. The water system operating budget is within the funding availability, but anticipated infrastructure needs will exceed the available fund balance and revenue projections.
The new rates are based on an independent analysis conducted by LT Municipal Services. This analysis evaluated the cost of daily operations, ongoing maintenance, and planned capital improvements.
In January, the Board of Directors directed CSD staff to send notices to the community about the proposed changes in accordance with California’s Proposition 218. This process opened a formal protest period, during which parcel owners could submit written objections. If protests were received from more than 50% of parcel owners, the proposed rate increases would not take effect.
At the March 27 meeting, a preliminary count showed 642 protests were submitted for the water fee change, and 627 for the solid waste change. A total of 1801 protests were needed to prevent the fees from taking effect.
Since only some parcels in Bear Valley Springs are connected to the sewer system, 256 protests from parcels on the sewer system are required to block the proposed sewer rate change. At the end of the March 27 meeting, the CSD was still counting and verifying sewer-related protests, so no action was taken.
The final protest count for Sewer will be formally presented to the Board of Directors at the next meeting on April 9. Please note that the protest period has closed, and no additional submissions can be accepted.
The CSD will issue a future release with more information on manure disposal once registration stickers are available.
