Keeping a Business in California by Reducing Municipal Costs

A 600+ person manufacturing company based in California for over 20 years called Nossaman when it needed help managing its enormous wastewater bill.

Because a special municipal district reassessed water discharge fees every time the company changed ownership, the fees had risen to more than a million dollars a year.  After the company failed to appeal the rate changes, they began exploring options to relocate to a neighboring state where costs would be lower.

We helped the company by drawing on strong working relationships with many of the key figures of the special municipal district.  We communicated directly about the company's problem and possible relocation.

By appealing to the special district's pro-business leadership, we were able to identify an effective alternative administrative procedure to change the water discharge fee structure.  This effort reduced the charge by more than half each year into the foreseeable future.

The company saved water discharge fees as well as the potential cost and effort of relocating.