Chualar Sewer Bills Could Shift Off Property Tax Rolls: County Studying Monterey One Water Billing

CHUALAR, Monterey County — October 28, 2026. Monterey County is studying whether residents and businesses served by County Service Area 75 – Chualar should have sewer charges billed through Monterey One Water rather than collected on the property tax roll.

A preliminary analysis, PAR 26-021, appeared before the Board of Supervisors on August 11, 2026 after Supervisors Church and Lopez submitted referral 2026.14. The proposal also covers the Pajaro County Sanitation District, but the billing impact on any individual parcel depends on that parcel’s service district.

Why the county switched billing methods previously

County records say Monterey One Water had handled billing and collection under contracts, but advised in 2024 that it would discontinue those services as of June 30 of that year. The county then selected collection through the property tax roll, which it described as the more cost-effective method available at the time.

The August 2026 referral seeks an evaluation of shifting the collections process again. Receiving a preliminary report or asking staff to study an option is not itself a decision to change the way the next property tax or sewer bill is issued.

What residents can do

Review the official county referral and preliminary analysis (PAR 26-021), then compare any future policy changes with notices from the county and Monterey One Water. Do not assume that a scheduled study changes your current payment deadline or service charges.

Editorial note: This story concerns the billing process, not the separate Chualar wastewater-treatment infrastructure project. Confirmed decisions about this referral will update the article on its present URL.

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