Original envelopes may have let some ballots slip loose.

The city of Santa Clarita has sent another set of ballots out to some homeowners regarding the Stormwater Assessment Fee calculation change.

According to City Clerk Sharon Dawson, about 500 of the ballot envelopes were returned to the city without the actual voting card. This may have been caused by the original ballot envelope, which residents had to stick together using a special piece of paper. If not put together properly, the envelope could have allowed for the ballot card to slip out in transit.

As a precaution, Dawson said that for each empty envelope the city received, a new ballot and real envelope was sent again. If residents do receive a replacement ballot, an explanation of the problem will accompany it.

The idea for the user-constructed envelopes reportedly came from a city consultant, who had previously used the system with success.

While the problem was severe enough for the city to take notice, it was far from epidemic, as about 9,000 ballots have made their way to City Hall intact so far.

The Stormwater Assessment Fee change is an updated way at calculating how much impervious or non-absorbent area each property site contains. The amount of impervious area dictates how much each property owner pays to maintain the stormwater runoff system.

For more than 85% of Santa Clarita residents, their fees are going down. However, larger residential parcels are being calculated on a site-by-site basis and will likely pay increased amounts.

To read more about this fee and how it will be calculated, read our archived stories.