(a) In addition to its other powers, a district may, by a resolution of the board at a noticed public hearing, fix and collect charges and fees, including minimum and standby charges, for the provision of benefits and services.

(b) Notice of the public hearing shall be given by publication once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the principal county.

(c) The board, in fixing the charges and fees, may establish the dates of delinquency and may impose penalties for delinquency not exceeding 10 percent of the amount of the charge or fee and may, in addition, collect interest at a rate not to exceed 1.5 percent per month from the date of delinquency on all delinquent charges and fees. The district may sue for the recovery of unpaid charges and fees or the unpaid charges or fees may be added to the operation and maintenance assessment in the same manner as unpaid water charges pursuant to Section 51440.

(d) The revenue obtained from charges and fees may be in lieu of, or supplemental to, revenue obtained in any other manner and may be used for any district purpose and the payment of any district obligation.

(e) After a charge or fee is initially fixed by the board at a noticed public hearing, the board may subsequently reduce that amount of that charge or fee without notice or a public hearing.

(f) If the procedures set forth in this section as it read at the time a standby charge was established were followed, the board may, by resolution, continue the charge pursuant to this section in successive years at the same rate. If new, increased, or extended assessments are proposed, the board shall comply with the notice, protest, and hearing procedures in Section 53753 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 27, Sec. 33. Effective January 1, 2008.)