Title
Community Development Services, Administration and Finance Division, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 160- 2017 setting for mailed ballot election on March 6, 2018, a measure to consider a special tax to provide road improvement and maintenance services in the Pilot View Drive Road Zone of Benefit 98135, within County Service Area 9, to replace the current benefit assessment.
FUNDING: Zone of Benefit Assessments.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Services, Administration and Finance Division (Division), recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 160-2017 setting for mailed ballot election on March 6, 2018, a measure to consider a special tax to provide road improvement and maintenance services in the Pilot View Drive Road Zone of Benefit 98135, within County Service Area 9, to replace the current benefit assessment.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Board of Supervisors formed the Pilot View Drive Road Zone of Benefit 98135 (Zone) on December 30, 1986, for the purpose of providing road improvement and maintenance services. Beginning with Fiscal Year 1987-1988, Zone operations have been funded through annual benefit assessments on each parcel of land within the Zone boundaries.
A total of 72 parcels within the Zone are currently assessed $100 annually, generating $7,200 in revenue to fund road improvement and maintenance services on 1.5 miles of road within the Zone. If the proposed measure is approved, the current benefit assessment will be replaced with an annual special tax in the amount of $200 per parcel. If approved, the special tax will result in annual revenue of $14,400 starting Fiscal Year 2018-2019, an increase of $7,200 over the current assessment. The special tax, if approved, will be subject to annual adjustment by the California Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CCPI-W), to better keep pace with escalating maintenance costs.
The Zone Advisory Committee notified Division staff of its desire to establish a special tax to replace the current benefit assessment. If approved, the special tax will increase Zone revenue in order to complete maintenance and improvement projects not currently supported by the existing assessment. The Zone Advisory Committee prefers a special tax to a benefit assessment because the special tax is uniformly applied, and does not required the support of an Engineer’s Report.
California State law requires approval by registered voters within the zone to establish or increase a special tax. The Registrar of Voters must conduct an election to allow the voters to consider the special tax. The Division requests the Board set the measure, as shown on Exhibit A of the Resolution, for mailed ballot election. Should the measure pass, the special tax will replace the existing benefit assessment. Should the measure fail to receive the required two-thirds majority approval, the Zone Advisory Committee wishes to continue the existing benefit assessment at the current level.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may choose not to approve the Resolution setting the measure for election. While there is no guarantee the measure will pass, without the election there is no opportunity for Zone voters to consider the measure to increase funding for Zone activities.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
Elections / Registar of Voters
CAO RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost of the mailed ballot election is estimated at $800. All costs for the election will be paid from the Zone’s existing benefit assessments. Should the measure be approved by a two-thirds majority of votes cast, the financial impact to the Zone will be an additional $7,200 in annual revenue. There is no impact to the Road Fund associated with the mailed ballot election.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on the one (1) original copy of the Resolution.
2) Clerk of the Board will provide one (1) certified copy of the Resolution to the Community Development Services, Administration and Finance Division, attention of Elizabeth Zangari, for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance and Infrastructure.
CONTACT
Creighton Avila, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Community Development Agency, Administration and Finance Division