Item Number: 3
City Council / Board of Directors
Public Hearing(s)
Meeting of: July 21, 2026
Submitted By:
Asdghik Keyvanian, Finance Director/City Treasurer
Subject:
Adoption of Resolution No. VWD 26-010 - Annual Assessments for Unpaid Water Fees Recommendation:
That the Honorable Victorville Water District Board of Directors:
(1) Conduct the public hearing and receive testimony for the adoption of the proposed Resolution No. VWD 26-010;
(2) Close the public hearing;
(3) Adopt Resolution No. VWD 26-010 entitled, “A Resolution of the Victorville Water District, City of Victorville, adding delinquent non-paid charges to the annual taxes levied upon the property for which the charges are delinquent and unpaid;” and
(4) Authorize the Director of Finance to execute the Agreement for Collection of Special Taxes, Fees, and Assessments with the County.
Fiscal Impact:
Nominal costs were incurred, estimated under $3,041.00, from publishing required notices, which have been budgeted for in the current fiscal year. •4100545-52110, Water Customer Service Supplies (75%)
•4260545-52110, Solid Waste Customer Service Supplies (25%)
Proposed Resolution Number VWD 26-010 will allow delinquent balances to be collected for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, assessed by the County Assessor; assessments to be submitted for an estimated total of $768,823.50.
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with Goal A, Financial Sustainability – foster fiscal health through disciplined long-term planning, cost control, increased revenues, and cost recovery. By adding the non-paid charges to the taxes levied upon the property, the Victorville Water 4 8
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District is able to collect expected revenues and help maintain water rates as low as possible.
Discussion:
Attached is a report of delinquent non-paid charges for water services within the Water District. The list includes the property location, assessor’s parcel number (APN), amount of unpaid charges, and property owner. The property owners have been notified of their delinquency and of the public hearing. As of this date, the balances shown remain unpaid.
Per California Water Code Section 31701 (e) and 31701.5, accounts that are more than sixty days delinquent and have unpaid charges may be included in the property tax levied and shall constitute a lien on said property.
Senate Bill 998 (SB 998), the Water Shutoff Protection Act, established requirements governing the discontinuation of residential water service for nonpayment, including written notice procedures and protections for eligible residential customers experiencing financial hardship or qualifying medical conditions. Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) expanded these protections by requiring water agencies to adopt formal policies that provide deferred payment and alternative payment options for customers with delinquent accounts without requiring documentation of a qualifying medical condition or proof of income.
Due to Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), the Victorville Water District (VWD) temporarily suspended residential water service disconnections until the required policy could be implemented.
As a result, delinquent accounts that would have otherwise been resolved through the shutoff process continued to accumulate and instead proceeded through the lien process.
Consequently, the number of accounts eligible for lien placement increased significantly, resulting in the issuance of 4,157 Notices of Public Hearing (NOPH) this year, compared to an average of approximately 500 notices in prior years.
Notices of the Public Hearing and availability of the written report were mailed to all affected parcel owners on June 12, 2026, and published twice in the newspaper on June 19, 2026, and July 3, 2026. The notice mailed out to parcel owners provides them with an opportunity to remedy the arrearage on or before July 28, 2026, at 4 p.m. to avoid having the delinquent non-paid charges added to the annual taxes levied upon their property. Delinquent balances paid before the deadline will be removed from the list submitted to the County Assessor.
Staff remains available for any questions the Board of Directors may have.
Prepared By:
Josephine Hernandez, Finance Technician
Attachments: A. Resolution No. VWD 26-010
B. Water Code Sections 31701 and 31701.5