Notice of Rate Change

The District is engaging in a cost-of-service study to evaluate the water, wastewater, and recycled water rates needed for the next five years. If adopted, the first-year rate change will take effect January 1, 2026, and every July 1 thereafter.

We encourage you to check out our Rate Change Notification which was mailed to all ratepayers and property owners within the District’s service area. It contains information on the District’s accomplishments since the previous rate study of 2020.

The draft cost-of-service study can also be found here: 

Using the proposed new rates, the District plans on increasing its financial security and completing infrastructure improvements. Some of these include:

• Lining and repairing segments of the sewer collection system
• Installing permanent backup power solutions at critical water pumping stations
• Upgrading the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system
• Replacing redwood water tanks with noncombustible storage tanks
• Upgrading segments of the water distribution system

Information regarding the upcoming schedule and rate adoption process can be found below.

Schedule of Events

All events will take place at the District Board Room at 19400 Hartmann Rd, Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467.

• July 16, 2025: Adopt Proposition 218 Administrative Exhaustion Procedures via Resolution 2025-17 
• September 17, 2025: Approve the proposed rates
• November 10, 2025 (5:30 PM): Deadline to submit legal objection to the Proposition 218 proceeding
• November 12, 2025 (6:00 PM): Objection Public Hearing
• November 19, 2025 (prior to the close of the protest public hearing): Deadline to submit rate protest
• November 19, 2025 (6:00 PM): Rate protest public hearing and rate adoption.

 A copy of Resolution 2025-17 can be found here:

Public Hearing & Protest Information

Exhaustion of Remedies

• Deadline to Submit Objection: November 10, 2025 – 5:30 PM
• Objection Public Hearing: November 12, 2025 – 6:00 PM District Board Room

Pursuant to Government Code section 53759.1, property owners that will be affected by these proposed rate adjustments and any tenants directly responsible for the payment of the water, wastewater, and/or recycled water rates that believe the proposed rate adjustments violate Proposition 218 may submit a written objection to the District.

In order to be valid, written objections must contain all of the following information:

• Specify the rate or charge for which the objection is being submitted
• Include your name, assessor’s parcel number and/or service address, and signature
• Specify the grounds for alleging the District’s noncompliance with Proposition 218

Please note the specified grounds must be sufficiently detailed to allow the District to determine whether alterations to the proposed water, wastewater, and/or recycled water rates are needed. By way of example, an objection stating that the proposed rates are too high, or that they violate Proposition 218 without explaining the basis for illegality, is insufficient for purpose of administrative exhaustion.

Legal objections may be submitted by mail to 19400 Hartmann Rd, Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467, Attn: Secretary to the Board of Directors. Legal objections may also be submitted in person at the District’s administration office at 19400 Hartmann Rd, Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467, during published business hours. Any legal objection submitted via e-mail or other electronic means will not be accepted as a formal written protest.

Legal objections must be received by the Secretary to the Board of Directors by 5:30 PM on November 10, 2025. Failure to timely submit a written objection will prohibit you from bringing a lawsuit or other legal challenge alleging noncompliance with Article XIII D of the California Constitution for the proposed water, wastewater, and/or recycled water fees.

Protest Procedures

• Deadline to Submit Protest: November 19, 2025 – Prior to the Close of the Protest Public Hearing
• Protest Public Hearing and Rate Adoption: November 19, 2025 – 6:00 PM District Board Room

Any record owner of a parcel upon which the water, wastewater, and recycled water service rates are proposed for imposition, or any tenant directly responsible for the payment of the proposed water, wastewater, and recycled water service rates (i.e., a customer of record), may submit a written protest to the proposed rate increases; provided, however, only one protest will be counted per identified parcel.

Every written protest MUST include ALL of the following to be counted:

1. A statement providing that the protest is submitted in opposition to the rate increases for water, wastewater, or recycled water services;
2. Name of the record owner or customer of record who is submitting the protest;
3. Provide the location of the identified parcel (by assessor’s parcel number or service address); and
4. Original signature and legibly printed name of the record owner or customer of record who is submitting the protest.

Written protests may be submitted ONLY by:

• Mail to the District: Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District; Attn: Secretary to the Board of Directors; 19400 Hartmann Rd; Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467
• In-person delivery to 19400 Hartmann Rd, Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467, during published business hours; or
• In-person at the public hearing, prior to the conclusion of the public hearing.

All written protests must be received prior to the close of the protest public hearing on November 19, 2025.

The Board of Directors will consider all written protests timely submitted and hear and consider all public comments made at the public hearing. Oral comments at the public hearing will not qualify as formal protests unless accompanied by a written protest. Any protest submitted via e-mail or other electronic means will not be accepted. At the conclusion of the public hearing, protests will be counted and validated. Members of the public may observe the tabulation of protests. All protest forms submitted are public records and must be maintained by HVLCSD for two years. If protests are filed on behalf of a majority of the parcels subject to the rates before the end of the Public Hearing, HVLCSD cannot adopt the proposed rates. A majority means 50% plus one of all parcels subject to the proposed rates. If a majority of the parcels do not protest the proposed increase, HVLCSD has the authority to adopt the proposed rates at the proposed amount or any lower rates the Board may authorize. The first-year rate change, if enacted, will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Please be advised that pursuant to Government Code Section 53759(d) there is a 120-day statute of limitation for any challenge to the new, increased, or extended fee or charge.