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Proposed Rates and Fees

Rates Provide Resources to Protect Public Health and the Environment

The sewer service charges provide the resources needed to protect public health and the Bay environment by maintaining top-quality sewer service. The rate revenue is helping pay for the $54 million in upgrades to the treatment plant and the conveyance system; and keep pace with the rising costs of supplies, power, chemicals, and all our other costs.

The bill for most customers appears on the annual property tax notice. It is not a tax, but rather a fee for service; the charge is placed on the property tax bill because that costs less than mailing and collecting individual bills.

Cost Cutting to Hold Down Rates

The District continually seeks out opportunities to decrease costs and increase efficiency. For example, the District: completed major projects on schedule and below estimated costs; decreased employee pension and retirement costs; outsourced selected activities to less expensive private contractors; increased cross-training of employees for improved efficiency; and implemented many other cost-saving steps.

Additional Information About The Proposed Changes in Rates

Public Hearing:  Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 12:00 PM
District Office, 1 East Road
Sausalito, California 94965

Press release: Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District is Proposing New Rates

Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District Sewer Service Charge Study (Draft: Feb. 28, 2024)

Proposition 218 Notice of Proposed Changes in Sewer Service Rates and Charges

Proposed Total Annual Sewer Service Charges

Residential Bills. For residential customers (Single Family, Multifamily, and Floating homes), the rate shown below is charged on a per-unit (EDU/DU) basis.

Nonresidential (Commercial) Bills. The nonresidential rate per EDU is the same as the Single Family rate, but each nonresidential customer has its own bill based on its own estimated strength and flow (see the formula on the previous page). The minimum nonresidential charge is one EDU.

Wastewater Service Consists of Three Steps:

  1. Collect the wastewater from homes and businesses through local pipelines and pumps,
  2. Convey the sewage through larger pipelines and pumps to the treatment plant,
  3. Treat the wastewater at the plant and discharge.

Sewer Service Charge. This charge covers sewage conveyance and treatment only.

Collection System Charges (Unincorporated Areas Only).

The District provides all sewer-related services for Marin City, floating homes, and other unincorporated areas within the District’s boundaries: collection of wastewater in neighborhoods; use of large pumps, pipelines, and controls to convey wastewater to the treatment plant; safe treatment and disinfection; and discharge into the Bay.

TABLE 1: Annual Unincorporated Sewer Collection Charges

The charges shown below for sewer collection services have been added into the Total Sewer Service Charges shown in the table below for Marin City, Floating Homes, and other unincorporated areas.

[Table 1] Annual Unincorporated Sewer Collection Charges
Customer ClassCurrent RateFY 2024-25FY 2025-26FY 2026-27FY 2027-28FY 2028-29
Single Family (per EDU)$387$446$453$460$467$474
Multifamily (per EDU)$341$378$384$389$395$401
Floating Homes (per EDU)$290$331$336$341$346$351
Nonresidential (per EDU)$387$446$453$460$467$474

Current and Proposed Rates for Properties Within the City of Sausalito

If you live in the City of Sausalito, you receive two sewer charges—one from the City and one from Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District. Those charges cover two entirely different services.

The City of Sausalito is responsible for properly collecting and containing wastewater within Sausalito City limits. City of Sausalito residents pay a collection charge to the city.

Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District (District) is responsible for the large pumps, pipelines, and controls that convey wastewater to the treatment plant, safely treat and disinfect it, and discharge it to the Bay through an outfall.

Fiscal Responsibility and Teamwork. Working together, the City and the District share resources and operate the sewer system in support of each other and as efficiently as possible, to protect our health and safety. Each entity charges separately for their part of the services.

TABLE 2: Total Annual Sewer CONVEYANCE and TREATMENT Charges for Customers in City of Sausalito

Note: An additional charge for sewer collection is charged by the City of Sausalito.

[Table 2] Total Annual Sewer CONVEYANCE and TREATMENT Charges for Customers in City of Sausalito
Customer ClassCurrent RateFY 2024-25FY 2025-26FY 2026-27FY 2027-28FY 2028-29
Single Family (per EDU)$999$1,033$1,053$1,074$1096$1,117
Multifamily (per EDU)$875$874$892$910$928$947
Floating Homes (per EDU)$753$765$781$797$813$829
Nonresidential (per EDU)$999$1,033$1,053$1,074$1096$1,117

TABLE 3: Total Annual Sewer CONVEYANCE, TREATMENT & COLLECTION Charges
for Customers in Unincorporated Areas

Note: The Charge below includes the collection charge shown in Table 1.

[Table 3] Total Annual Sewer CONVEYANCE, TREATMENT & COLLECTION Charges for Customers in Unincorporated Areas
Customer ClassCurrent RateFY 2024-25FY 2025-26FY 2026-27FY 2027-28FY 2028-29
Single Family (per EDU)$1,386$1,479$1,506$1,534$1,563$1,591
Multifamily (per EDU)$1,216$1,252$1,276$1,299$1,323$1,348
Floating Homes (per EDU)$1,043$1,096$1,117$1,138$1,159$1,180
Nonresidential (per EDU)$1,386$1,479$1,506$1,534$1,563$1,591

Questions or Comments About Sausalito–Marin City Sanitary District Service or Rates?

We are here to help. If you have questions or comments about Sanitary District services or rates:

Call 415-332-0244, Monday-Friday 8 am to 3 pm
Or email info@smcsd.net