This November, the City of Oakley will be asking voters to approve a Utility User Tax (UUT). The City has chosen to include sewer service as one of several utilities that will be taxed. In addition to sewer, the City will tax electricity, water, gas and cable TV as part of the UUT initiative.
If voters approve this tax, Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD) will be required, by this City initiative, to increase annual sewer service fees by 3.5 percent for properties within Oakley. The UUT is a general tax, requiring voter approval of 50 percent plus one.
About ISD
• ISD provides sewer collection and treatment services to every property connected to the public sewer system.
• The District collects an annual fixed “sewer service fee” via your property tax bill.
• The District’s Board has worked to stabilize rates by reducing costs and managing resources.
• The Board did not increase sewer fees for Fiscal-Year (FY) 2016/17.
What this means to Oakley ratepayers
The City’s UUT will require the District to increase annual sewer service fees by 3.5 percent. All of the monies collected through this tax go to the City of Oakley not ISD.
Based on FY 2016/17 rates, ISD residential customers in Oakley would see an increase of $23.03 on their 2017 annual fee assessment.
Unlike the flat residential sewer fee, business customers are assessed fees based on the total service units assigned to the property. The City’s UUT will also require the District to assess business customers an additional 3.5 percent increase to their sewer use fees.
Because the UUT is a City of Oakley measure, the increase in ISD’s fees required by this City tax initiative, will apply only to Oakley properties that are connected to the public sewer system. Bethel Island customers will not see any increase in their annual sewer service fees, nor will properties who are connected to a septic system.
For more information visit the City of Oakley offices located 3231 Main Street, Oakley; call (925) 625-7000; or see the City's website at www.ci.oakley.ca.us.