A judge rejected a request from a group of local homeowners to block the city of San Diego from collecting monthly trash collection fees, which they allege are unlawful because they say the fee exceeds the costs of providing trash services.

The homeowners sued the city earlier this year following the passage of Measure B, which ended free trash pickup services for single-family homes.

The plaintiffs allege the newly unveiled fees violate Proposition 218, a state ballot measure that holds utility fees cannot exceed the costs of providing those services.

Superior Court Judge James Mangione on Friday confirmed a tentative ruling he issued the day before, in which he wrote that a rule in California law known as "pay first, litigate later" prevents courts from interfering with tax collection

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