San 5 approves five-year hike to sewer fees

The sewer district for the southern peninsula has approved a five-year rate hike that will increase Belvedere residents’ service charges by 36% and southern Tiburon’s by more than double. In the end, however, everyone will pay the same effective rate for the first time since Belvedere joined the district in 2005.

The Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin board voted unanimously at its June 22 and 29 special meetings to raise the rates, which took effect July 1.

Owners of only five of the 2,200 affected parcels submitted protest letters prior to the June 22 meeting, representing a 0.23% “no” vote. Under California’s Proposition 218 process, ratepayer approval is tacit: Special-district fee increases require voter approval, but to defeat one, a simple majority of all ratepayers must submit written or in-person protests.

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