Politics & Government

Opposition Grows to Sanitary Rate Increase

Towns take formal opposition stand and effort to stop rate increase spreads.

Opposition to a proposed rate increase from the Ross Valley Sanitary District is growing among ratepayers as each of the towns is taking a formal opposition stance and a resident in Larkspur kicked off an opposition campaign.

At a meeting in April, . However, a.

Now, the district is considering raising rates to $697 a year for most residents and to $923 for Larkspur residents.

Find out what's happening in Larkspur-Corte Maderawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But, opposition to this proposal is rising.

According to The Marin Independent Journal, a Larkspur business man, Dennis Gilardi, has taken it on himself to send postcards to all 18,000 ratepayers seeking their opposition to the rate increase.

Find out what's happening in Larkspur-Corte Maderawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One side of the postcard reads: "I/we, the undersigned, oppose the currently proposed Ross Valley Sanitary District sewer rate increase for the property(s) listed below by Assessor's Parcel Number."

On the reverse side, the card states: "Your voice matters — sign and send the enclosed postcard immediately and it will be delivered to the Ross Valley Sanitary District on your behalf." The cards are pre-addressed to go to a post office box in San Rafael. All recipients need do is put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail.

To stop a rate increase under Proposition 218, a majority of ratepayers must submit a formal protest. A formal protest must be submitted in writing by the end of the public hearing on June 28 (it can not be emailed). The protest must state the ratepayer's opposition, identify the property owner, list the address of parcel number, and be signed. They can be mailed or turned in in-person at the start of the public hearing.

The sanitary district will hold a public hearing on its proposed rate on June 28 at 6 p.m. at Kent Middle School in the multi-purpose room.

The affected towns are also jumping onboard the formal opposition process. The town of Larkspur voted to file a protest earlier this month. Last week, on June 1, the Fairfax Town Council voted to file a formal protest of opposition as well.

"A rate increase at this time is unwise," said Fairfax's ordinance in opposition to the increase. "As the council is all too familiar, families throughout Fairfax have had to tighten their belts during the current challenging economic times."

The San Anselmo Town Council will also vote on a resolution in opposition and consider filing a formal protest at it meeting on June 14 at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.


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