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1. Why are SMD 1 - North Auburn sewer fees increasing?

1. In general, the proposed increases in sewer user fees reflect increased costs to operate and maintain efficient, and reliable sewer services in compliance with state regulations. 
2. The sewer user fees in SMD 1-North Auburn have not increased since July 1, 2013. Since that time, the Engineering News Record Construction Cost Index has increased 39%, the California Consumer Price Index has increased 34%, and the US Department of Labor Water/Sewer/Trash Index has increased 45%. 

2. If approved, when will the SMD 1 - North Auburn fee increase take effect?

The initial increase will be effective on August 1, 2023, and each additional increase will take effect annually on July 1 through 2027.

3. How do my SMD 1 - North Auburn fees compare with surrounding areas?

1. Please see the Sewer Rate Comparison chart.
2. The rolling hills in this district require expensive pump stations to move the sewage. Fees in local districts that have similar topography such as some districts in Nevada County, and the Cities of Auburn, Placerville and Colfax are comparable to SMD 1 – North Auburn Sewer rates.  
3. The SMD 1 – North Auburn district is a large, low population district compared to some nearby urban community districts. Although fees may be different for a variety of reasons, in general, the cost per customer typically decreases as the number of customers increases. In highly populated urban communities, there are a large number of people to share fixed costs, resulting in lower fees per customer. Unincorporated Placer County districts are spread over a wide area and are not as densely populated as urban areas. This results in more miles of pipe to maintain per customer.  

4. Why don’t developer assessments cover the sewer fee increases?

State regulations only allow connection fees for new construction to be used to increase capacity in the collection and treatment systems proportionate to the impact caused by the new development. Connection fees for new development may not be used to subsidize current usage or pay for treatment plant improvements needed to meet new regulatory requirements.

5. I am on a fixed income. Is there any discount or subsidy available?

State law prohibits utilities from offering discounts or providing subsidies, to ensure each property has the same access to, and use of, the sewer system for the same price. Each property has to pay the same amount for the same benefit, e.g., access to, and use of, the sewer system. 

6. Why is this charge on my tax bill instead of a monthly statement?

It is the most cost-efficient way to collect the charges. Billing monthly would require additional staffing and thus further increase sewer fees.

7. How long has this charge been on my tax bill?

Placer County has been billing sewer fees on the tax roll for over 25 years.

8. I am all by myself. Why do I pay the same or as much as a family of 4 or 6?

The residential fee system is based on the average residential usage for a single-family residence. Public agency investigation into the number of individuals within a residence would require intrusion in the private lives of our customers to an unacceptable level and is infeasible from an administrative standpoint. The system used for billing is commonly in place throughout California.

9. How do I object to the proposed increase?

You may object to the proposed increases by any of the following methods:

1. Send an e-mail to:  [email protected]
2. Mail or personally deliver a written protest to the following address:

Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

County of Placer

175 Fulweiler Avenue

Auburn, CA 95603

10. A valid protest must contain:

• The property address or assessor’s parcel number.
• Name and signature of the parcel owner (or an authorized representative).
• Written evidence that the signer is the owner of the property, if the signer is different than the person to whom this notice is addressed. 
• A statement that you are protesting the proposed fee increases. You do not need to give a reason for your opposition; opposition alone is sufficient.
• Proposition 218 requires all written protests be received by the end of the public hearing. If you submit your protest by regular mail, please allow sufficient time for the mail to be delivered, as a postmark will not be accepted.

11. What constitutes a majority protest?

1. A majority protest is reached when 50% plus 1 of the properties served by the sewer district object to the proposed fee increase.
2. One written protest per parcel shall be counted in calculating a majority protest to a proposed fee increase.
3. SMD 1-North Auburn would require valid protests from 3,930 parcels.

12. Where can I get additional information?

The North Auburn Municipal Advisory Council will receive an informational item regarding the proposed fee increases at their May 9, 2023 meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Planning Commission Chambers of the Community Development Resource Agency building located at 3091 County Center Drive, Auburn.   

13. What is LiSWA and why is it affecting my sewer user fees?

• On March 13, 2012, the Placer County Board of Supervisors (Board) accepted the City of Lincoln’s (Lincoln) offer to construct, own and operate a regional pump station and pipeline from North Auburn to the Lincoln Wastewater Treatment and Recovery Facility (Treatment Plant). The improvements were completed and Lincoln began treating SMD 1-North Auburn wastewater flows in May 2016.
• Currently, the Treatment Plant is nearing capacity for existing County and City customers and will need to be expanded.
• The County and Lincoln formed a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) that created a cost of service model to estimate new treatment costs using conservative assumptions for many variable components.  
• The County and Lincoln developed a business proposal for a path forward that would align the interests of the County and Lincoln and ensure equal treatment of all connections. 
• In November 2022, the Board and Lincoln entered into a Joint Power Agreement, creating the Lincoln-Sewer Maintenance District 1 Wastewater Authority (LiSWA).
• LiSWA Board of Directors is comprised of 2 members of the Placer County Board of Supervisors and 2 members of the Lincoln City Council.
• LiSWA owns, acquires, expands, manages, maintains, operates, and controls the Treatment Plant and appurtenant regional wastewater facilities.
• Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, LiSWA treats residential EDUs equally regardless of jurisdictional boundaries and uses a uniform method for assigning EDUs to non-residential users.
• On April 14, 2023, the LiSWA Board of Directors approved the Initial Cost of Service Setting Report to establish the wastewater services rates to be charged to the County and Lincoln, which included treatment and debt service associated with the expansion project.  Please see Report.
• The new charge rate from LiSWA is $34.56 per month per EDU, up from current charge of $27.64.
• It is proposed that the LiSWA charge be implemented on a gradual basis over the next 5 years commencing on August 1, 2023 with a 7% increase. 
• Thereafter, it is proposed that the fee increase annually on July 1 at 7% for 2024, and a maximum of 5% per year for 2025, 2026 and 2027, based upon Water/Sewer/Trash Index (W/S/T Index) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website, comparing the month of December to the previous December.  See table below.
• As an offset toward the debt service portion of the sewer user fees, it is proposed that SMD 1 contribute $800,000 per year of sewer connection fee reserves to LiSWA for expansion of the sewer system for the new Treatment Plant expansion.

Effective Date of New Sewer User Fee	Proposed Percentage Increase	Proposed User Fee Increase ($/Mo/EDU)	Proposed Monthly Fee ($/Mo/EDU)
Current Fee = $95.78
August 1, 2023	7%	$6.70	$102.48
July 1, 2024	7%	$7.17	$109.65
July 1, 2025	W/S/T Index - Max 5%	$5.48 - Max	$115.13 - Max
July 1, 2026	W/S/T Index - Max 5%	$5.76 - Max	$120.89 - Max
July 1, 2027	W/S/T Index - Max 5%	$6.04 - Max	$126.93 – Max