Sewer Bill Solution Reported at 10/25 City Council Meeting

I was impressed with the attention given the sewer billing problem that is fast approaching.  In the past, Helix Water District has provided information and the billing process for the City of La Mesa to collect for sewer charges.  But Helix Water District notified the city some time ago that they are upgrading their software and the new program will not be able to provide that service anymore. 

So the city has been working to find a cost effective way to assume the sewer billing process.  At the October 25 City Council meeting, Greg Humora, Director of Public Works, gave a positive report about how the sewer billing will be resolved.  By placing it on the Property Tax bill.

Of course there will be positives and negatives that will need to be worked out as he said that night.  The cost to place it on the property tax is minimal — actually a savings I think he said.  There might be a sticker-shock to the citizens of La Mesa who are familiar with a bi-monthly billing.  When the change takes place they will pay for the entire year, instead of 2 months at a time.  Residents will need to make some adjustments to plan for the increased payment come property tax time, but they will no longer receive a bi-monthly bill in the mail.

Another foreseeable problem that Greg mentioned was that property owners who don't currently pay the water bill, and don't pay the sewer bill, will now receive the sewer charges on their Property Tax bill.  As Greg said, a great effort will be made to provide many notices to the property owners so that they can make adjustments to their tenants on the payment of this bill.

All in all, there are many cities that combine the sewer charges on the property bill, it has been very successful in other areas and I applaud the City of La Mesa for looking into this.