The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to take the first step Tuesday to start charging homeowners in Tesoro Del Valle, Fair Oaks Ranch, West Creek and other newly developed parts of the Santa Clarita Valley – and other new communities throughout the county – for sewer maintenance.

Unlike storm drains, which are handled by sanitation districts, local sewers are kept clean by the county’s consolidated sewer maintenance district. Home and business owners pay for the service through their property tax bills – but not before they’re formally annexed into the district.

Readers who followed the city of Santa Clarita’s recent landscape maintenance district changes will recognize some similarities with the process.

Under Proposition 218, the supervisors must pass a resolution of intent to annex the properties to the sewer maintenance district and set a public hearing. Then, at least 45 days before the hearing, the county must send letters notifying all property owners of the new charge.

After the public hearing, if the supervisors determine that a majority of property owners haven’t formally protested in writing, the properties would be added to the district and they would be assessed starting in July 2013.

In total, all parcels up for consideration Tuesday would generate an additional $155,000 in revenue for sewer maintenance. A majority of the new acreage is in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Included are 445 acres of parcels in Tesoro del Valle, 320 acres in Fair Oaks Ranch and another 127 acres near Lost Canyon Road, 281 acres in the West Creek area, a 30-acre area in Santa Clarita at the southwest corner of Pine Street and Newhall Avenue, 20 acres in Castaic and 12 acres in Stevenson Ranch.