Article 4. Charges of California Water Code >> Division 14. >> Part 9. >> Chapter 7. >> Article 4.

For the purpose of the care, operation, management, or improvement of such portions of the project as are in use, including salaries of officers and employees, and all other operating expenses, the board may in lieu (either in part or in whole) of levying assessments as in this chapter provided for, fix rates of tolls and charges for irrigation or available irrigation and other services rendered by the district, including the use of ground water, and collect the same from all persons receiving the benefit of the irrigation or other services. The tolls and charges shall be proportional as nearly as possible to the service rendered.

Whenever any tolls or charges for the use of the water or for other services rendered by the district provided for by this division have been fixed by the board, they may be made payable in advance.

In case any tolls or charges remain unpaid for a period of 30 days after they become payable, they become delinquent and a penalty of 10 percent shall be added thereto, and they bear interest at the rate of 12 percent per year.

After any toll or charge becomes delinquent, the board may file in the office of the county recorder of the county in which is situated the land as to which such tolls or charges are delinquent, a list showing:
  (a) The names of the owners of the land, if known, and if not known, a statement of that fact.
  (b) A description of the land sufficient for identification.
  (c) The amounts of tolls and charges which are delinquent. Upon the filing of the list, the tolls and charges so listed, together with the penalties and interest thereon, shall become a lien upon the land as to which such tolls and charges are delinquent in the same manner and of the same character as the lien of a district assessment.

The board may, at any time after any toll or charge provided for in this division has become delinquent, direct that proceedings be not taken to enforce the lien therefor, and in place of such proceedings bring suit in the name of the district against the delinquent to enforce collection of the delinquent toll or charge.

In the suit the district may recover the amount of the toll or charge, together with penalties and interest, and costs of suit.