News Summary
Residents in San Diego are grappling with the recent implementation of an annual trash charge integrated into property tax bills, causing significant confusion and frustration. Many homeowners have reported unexpected increases in their property taxes, with the new fee set at $523.20. Since its rollout, over 2,000 inquiries have flooded county offices, indicating widespread concern over billing discrepancies and the loss of city trash services. Additional factors such as school bond measures have further complicated property tax bills for residents, while officials have promised future adjustments to address the issues faced by homeowners.
San Diego residents are facing confusion and frustration due to a new annual trash charge that has been integrated into property tax bills. As a result, many homeowners have recently noticed an increase in their property taxes, which they attribute largely to this new fee of $523.20. City officials declared this fee necessary after over three decades of free trash service, prompting thousands of residents to contact county offices with inquiries and complaints.
Since early October, when the new property tax bills were mailed out, San Diego County Assessor Jordan Marks has reported over 2,000 inquiries regarding these trash charges. The volume of resident questions has been consistently high, as many are directed to an automated phone system that transfers them to the city’s Environmental Services Department for further assistance.
A significant issue that residents have encountered is billing discrepancies. Many homeowners who chose a lower trash fee option were instead charged the full amount for the most expensive plan, which costs $43.60 per month for a 95-gallon bundle. Other options available are the 65-gallon plan at $38.94 per month and the 35-gallon plan at $32.82 per month. Marks indicated that virtually all San Diegans were mistakenly charged the highest option, but adjustments and discounts for these errors are anticipated in the future.
The rollout of this new trash program has not been without complications. Reports indicate that over 5,000 property owners lost city service and must seek new waste disposal arrangements with contracted private haulers. This situation has added to the overall confusion surrounding the new charges.
Additionally, several other factors have contributed to the increase in property tax bills. For instance, multiple school bond measures, such as Measure U for the San Diego Unified School District and Measure HH for the Community College District, are also included on the tax bills. Historical data shows that California voters tend to support school bond measures, with 205 out of 267 measures passing statewide in the recent November elections.
California’s Proposition 13, passed in 1978, limits annual property tax increases to 2%, establishing a cap that is particularly relevant in high-cost housing markets like those in San Diego County, where housing remains among the most expensive in the nation. Despite this cap, the Tax Foundation ranks California 32nd for the highest property taxes, noting that the median county property tax bill was $5,542 in 2023. San Diego County’s median tax bill ranks 96th out of 3,223 counties and municipalities.
The decision to attach the new trash fees to property taxes was made by county officials to lower administrative costs, with similar strategies successfully implemented in other cities like Berkeley and San Jose. For homeowners wishing to manage these costs effectively, the trash fee can be paid in two installments of $261.60 as part of the property tax schedule. Furthermore, those enrolled in a payment plan for property taxes will receive a 100% trash subsidy if they have missed at least one payment, aimed at preventing homeowners from losing their homes due to missed trash payments.
Despite the challenges posed by the new trash charges, real estate analysis indicates that these fees have not significantly impacted loan estimates for homes in San Diego County. Typically, the property tax rate for home loans hovers around 1.25%, while most residents enjoy a rate closer to 1.17%, allowing for adjusted city calculations. This slight distinction may help mitigate some financial pressures faced by local homeowners amidst rising tax bills.
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Additional Resources
- San Diego Union-Tribune: Trash Fee Confusion
- MSN: Late Property Tax Reminders in San Diego
- Norada Real Estate: San Diego Real Estate Market
- Times of San Diego: Property Tax Bills Due
- Fox 5 San Diego: Unpaid Property Taxes Notices
- Wikipedia: Property Tax
- Google Search: San Diego property tax
- Google Scholar: California property taxes
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Property Tax
- Google News: San Diego property tax news
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
