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-Editorial
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 16 approved three major actions dealing with the county’s solid waste program, sewer rates for a colonia near Brawley, and the hiring of a consultant to develop a strategy for new public safety facilities.
The board adopted resolutions authorizing Fiscal Year 2025-26 secured solid waste land use fee assessments totaling $1,014,009 and unsecured assessments of $9,511. The county tax collector will add the fees to secured and unsecured property tax rolls for collection. According to Public Works Director John A. Gay, the secured assessment increased by $30,927 from the prior year while the unsecured assessment dropped by $351.
County officials said the fees are necessary to cover costs tied to solid waste operations, including debt service, regulatory compliance, state-mandated fees, and contributions to the landfill closure fund. The assessments are recalculated each year to reflect operating and compliance needs. Gay emphasized that there is no fiscal impact to the county’s general fund, as revenues flow into the solid waste enterprise fund.
In a separate action, supervisors approved the levy of sewer rate fees for the Cady Poe Colonia County Service Area. The colonia was designated in 1997 due to a lack of potable water, sewage infrastructure, and safe housing. Since then, residents have been connected to the City of Brawley’s water system, while the county has operated a wastewater collection and treatment system for the neighborhood.
Residents will continue paying $30 per month, or $360 annually, with the fees now collected through property tax bills. That method was adopted last year after most residents fell behind on monthly payments to the county. Of the approximately 39 sewer connections, 24 had outstanding balances, creating a substantial budget shortfall.
The county expects to collect about $15,480 from the 2025-26 property tax rolls, but Public Works officials warned that the amount falls far short of what is needed to sustain the system. Years of unpaid fees have created a deficit of more than $2.1 million. A Proposition 218-compliant rate study is underway to determine a new structure for sewer rates. Officials estimate rates will need to rise four to five times the current amount to cover annual operations and provide positive cash flow.
Supervisors also approved a four-month, $130,000 contract with Clifford Moss LLC, a consulting firm, to provide assessment, research, and strategic planning services tied to a possible bond measure for new public safety facilities. Sheriff-Coroner-Marshal Fred Miramontes said the county has gone without critical facilities for years, including a coroner’s office, an updated emergency operations center, regional dispatch capabilities, and adequate fire department support in rural areas.
Miramontes said the county has been forced to “make do without the facilities we need” due to limited state and federal funding. A locally approved bond measure, he argued, may be the only path forward to address public safety demands. Clifford Moss LLC will help the county assess election feasibility, gauge voter support, and craft a strategic plan for placing a measure on the ballot.
Funding for the contract will come from the county’s contingency account, officials said.
In other items, Imperial County Supervisor District 1 Jesus Escobar announced that he will step down from his role as vice chair of the board and from his committee assignments due to pending litigation against him by the former clerk of the board. “I look forward to retaking my role in the future,” Escobar said. “I will continue to passionately fulfill my duties as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Imperial County and remain fully committed to serving my constituents in Calexico and in the county with the same dedication as always.”
