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HEARING - Community Development Services, Administration and Finance Division, recommending the Board:
1) Conduct a public hearing to consider public comment on the annual written report of Benefit Assessments/Service Charges for the Zones of Benefit within County Service Area 2 for road improvement and maintenance services; and
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 104-2018 confirming the Annual Written Report and authorizing the benefit/service charges to be collected in the same manner as the County’s ad valorem real property taxes for Fiscal Year 2018/19, noting that the pre-existing benefit assessments/service charges have been in place and collected since prior to the effective date of Proposition 218, with no increases in the amounts and no change in the methodology for calculating said amounts. (Est. Time: 5 Min.)
A public hearing to consider the proposed assessments has been scheduled for June 5, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., and noticed as required by Government Code section 25210.77a. Notice is scheduled for publication in the Georgetown Gazette on May 24, 2018 and May 31, 2018, in the Mountain Democrat on May 21, 2018 and June 1, 2018, and in the Tahoe Tribune on May 25, 2018 and June 1, 2018.
FUNDING: County Service Area Benefit Assessments/Service Charges.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Services, Administration and Finance Division, recommending the Board:
1) Conduct a public hearing to consider public comment on the annual written report of Benefit Assessments/Service Charges for the Zones of Benefit within County Service Area 2 for road improvement and maintenance services; and
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 104-2018 confirming the Annual Written Report and authorizing the benefit/service charges to be collected in the same manner as the County’s ad valorem real property taxes for Fiscal Year 2018/2019, noting that the pre-existing benefit assessments/service charges have been in place and collected since prior to the effective date of Proposition 218, with no increases in the amounts and no change in the methodology for calculating said amounts.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
There are two Zones of Benefit within County Service Area 2, which were formed to provide road improvement and maintenance services within their boundaries. Advisory Committees appointed by the Board of Supervisors hold duly noticed meetings each year to consider their proposed budgets and make recommendations regarding work projects. Based on this year’s meeting discussions, the Advisory Committees request that the Board confirm the Annual Report to be applied to the 2018/2019 tax roll as summarized in Exhibit A of the attached Resolution, and detailed in the Annual Report.
The assessments/service charges are a continuation of the pre-existing benefit assessments/service charges that have been in place and collected since prior to the effective date of Proposition 218. The continued assessments are not subject to a vote. County Counsel has previously determined that, so long as they are not increased and there is no change to the methodology by which the amounts are calculated, these assessments/service charges are exempt from the procedures and approval process of Article XIIID of the California Constitution, under Section f(a) of the Article.
A public hearing to consider public comment regarding the Annual Report has been scheduled for June 5, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., and noticed as required by Government Code section 25210.77a. Notice is scheduled for publication in the Georgetown Gazette on May 24 and May 31, 2018, in the Mountain Democrat on May 21 and June 1, 2018, and in the Tahoe Tribune on May 25 and June 1, 2018.
Authority for Benefit Assessments/Service Charges
Chapter 2.5 of the California Government code, also known as “County Service Area Law”, contains the regulations for establishing and governing county service areas. This Chapter replaced Chapter 2.2, formerly used for the same purpose, through the adoption of Senate Bill 1458, effective January 1, 2009.
Revised County Service Area Law omits section 25210.77a, which authorizes the Board of Supervisors to fix and collect charges to fund services within a County Service Area. Such assessments remain valid, as proved for in section 25210.3(d) of the new chapter, which states:
“Any indebtedness, bond, note, certificate of participation, contract, special tax, benefit assessment, fee, charge, election, ordinance, resolutions, regulations, rule or any other action of a board taken pursuant to the former Chapter 2.2 before January 1, 2009, shall not be impaired or voided solely because of the enactment of this Chapter, or any error, omission, informality, misnomer, or inconsistency with this Chapter.”
Additionally, the reporting and hearing requirements of former section 25210.77a and County Ordinance Code Chapter 3.30 remain applicable to such charges and assessments imposed pursuant to that section.
Former Government Code section 25210.77a(a) and County Ordinance Code section 3.30.020 include a requirement that, once each year, the Board of Supervisors receive a written report containing a description of each parcel of real property receiving the particular extended service and the amount of the charge for each parcel computed in conformity with the Ordinance authorizing collection of the charges on the tax roll.
Former Government Code section 25210.77a(b) and County Ordinance Code section 3.30.030 also require a public hearing be set for the purpose of registering objections to or protests against the charges to be fixed by the Board, at the conclusion of which the Board adopts the Resolution that confirms the content of the Annual Report and authorizes the charges to be collected in the same manner as the County’s ad valorem property taxes.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may determine not to adopt the Resolution to confirm the Annual Report and authorize collection of the benefit assessments/service charges for FY 2018/2019. This would leave the zones with insufficient funding for road improvement and maintenance services. Any new, increased, or replacement benefit assessment or special tax is subject to landowner or registered voter approval through statutory proceedings.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The proposed benefit assessments/service charges will provide revenue to fund each zone’s proposed work projects, the contribution to the Road Zone Insurance Policy, and other costs related to zone administration. The total assessment for 2018/2019 for the zones of benefit within County Service Area 2 is projected to be $68,200. There is no impact to the General Fund or the Road Fund, and there is no Net County Cost associated with this item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will secure the Chair’s signature on the Resolution and have the Resolution recorded.
2) The 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 implementation as authorized by law.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure.
CONTACT
Creighton Avila, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Chief Administrative Office