Stockton is playing hardball with residents who have fallen behind on their utility bills.
The City Council on Tuesday endorsed a plan to boost pressure on more than 4,000 customers who haven’t paid their utility or trash bills. The move will add the delinquent charges to property tax bills. The city will make the request to San Joaquin County’s tax collector in an effort to recover $8.8 million in unpaid debts.
It’s not a new idea. The council first authorized the plan in March 2018.
This spring, the city sent letters to 4,254 customers demanding payment. It also held administrative hearing for those who wanted to contest their bills or explain why they couldn’t pay. Some 88 customers appealed; all were rejected.
Taqi Ayesh came to Tuesday’s meeting to complain in person.
Ayesh said he’s been having to pay garbage pickup fees to the city’s contract waste haulers for two vacant lots he owns — even though there’s no refuse that needs to be picked up there.
“I am not disputing the mandatory requirement to have the service,” Ayesh said, “but I am disputing that the haulers, Waste Management and Republic Services, try to add thousands of dollars to my tax bill without delivering any service. I am opposed to that,” he said.
Vice Mayor Jason Lee also expressed concern about Waste Management’s customer service. The company had a glitch last year that resulted in bills not being sent on time.
Steve Herum, an attorney representing Waste Management, said at the meeting that the garbage removal company was asked to take over fee collection last year and there was a “clerical error” that caused the problem.
He emphasized that the company is responsive to its customers, with five dedicated representatives to handle service calls for Stockton alone.