Katz Plans Bill to Halt False Sewer Service Fees
Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) on Wednesday said he would seek legislation to make it illegal for Los Angeles to continue billing septic tank users hundreds of dollars annually for sewer service that they do not receive. “The fact that the city can collect money for services they never provided is outrageous,” Katz said.
Katz made the proposal in response to a claim filed with the city last Friday on behalf of eight Pacoima residents seeking full sewer fee refunds for money paid as far back as 1981.
The lawmaker said he wanted to make septic tank users eligible for full refunds of unwarranted sewer fees, which in some cases total more than $1,000. Currently, fees are refunded only for the 12 months before the time a septic tank user submits a request for an exemption. City officials say they do not know precisely which properties are connected to sewers and which are not.
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