THOUSAND OAKS : Debt Payment Plan to Be Reviewed

Thousand Oaks homeowners who have failed to pay their sewage bills during the past year will have their debts attached to their property taxes under a plan to be reviewed by the City Council tonight.

Don Nelson, director of utilities, said the city has used this method of collecting late sewage fees for the past three years.

“It’s 100% effective,” Nelson said.

He said the council is required by law to hold an annual public hearing on the collection program before it can be re-adopted. The reason is that different property owners are identified every year as being delinquent on their sewage bills and they must be given the opportunity to express their views on the collection process.

Nelson said that, this year, a total of 32 households have failed to pay their bills on time. He said the amount of outstanding debts is $4,557, with the single largest bill being $589.

Although the amount of debts owed to the city is small, Nelson said it is incumbent upon the city to collect.

“If we didn’t do this, the rates would go up,” he said, referring to the bimonthly sewage fees that average about $10.50.

If the plan is approved by the council, as expected, the names, addresses and the amount of outstanding bills of delinquent customers will be submitted to the county tax collector, Nelson said. The bills will then be attached to the property taxes of those non-paying customers. After the bills are paid, the county will reimburse the city, Nelson said. Property taxes are collected in December and April.