San Marino Homeowners Face Hikes in Public Safety Tax and Sewer Fees

City Council approves 5% increase in public safety parcel tax and 3% rise in sewer service charges to cover rising costs and infrastructure needs

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:07am

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A serene oil painting of a residential street in San Marino, California, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the pavement and homes. The scene conveys a sense of quiet contemplation about the challenges facing the community.As San Marino homeowners face new tax and fee hikes, the city's classic suburban streetscape reflects the delicate balance between funding essential services and managing the financial burden on residents.Pasadena Today

The San Marino City Council has approved increases to the city's public safety parcel tax and sewer service charges in order to maintain funding for critical services like police, fire, and paramedics, as well as address $18 million in needed underground infrastructure repairs. The 5% hike in the public safety tax and 3% rise in sewer fees will add to the financial burden on local homeowners, though officials say the increases are necessary to keep these systems operational.

Why it matters

San Marino, like many communities, is grappling with the challenge of funding essential public services and infrastructure amid rising costs. The decision to raise taxes and fees reflects the difficult tradeoffs city leaders must make to balance budgets and meet the needs of residents. This story highlights the tension between maintaining quality-of-life services and the impact on household budgets, especially for long-time homeowners.

The details

The San Marino City Council voted to increase the city's Public Safety Parcel Tax by 5% for the upcoming fiscal year. They also moved forward with plans to raise the city's new sewer service charge by 3%. Officials cited rising costs for paramedic, police, and fire services, as well as the need to address $18 million in underground infrastructure repair needs, as the primary drivers behind the hikes. While acknowledging the added financial burden on homeowners, the council said the increases were necessary to keep these critical systems funded and operational.

  • The 5% increase in the Public Safety Parcel Tax will take effect in the next fiscal year.
  • The 3% rise in the sewer service charge is also slated for the upcoming fiscal period.

The players

San Marino City Council

The governing body of the city of San Marino, California that approved the increases in the public safety tax and sewer fees.

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What’s next

The city will need to communicate the new tax and fee rates to residents and ensure proper billing and collection procedures are in place for the upcoming fiscal year.

The takeaway

This story highlights the difficult choices facing local governments as they balance the need to maintain essential public services and infrastructure with the financial impact on residents. San Marino's decision to raise taxes and fees reflects the broader challenge communities face in funding critical priorities amid rising costs.