Article 3 - Authorization: Requisites for Assessment

California Government Code — §§ 54710-54712

Sections (5)

Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 1449, Sec. 3.

(a)Any local agency which is authorized by law to provide one or more of the following services may impose a benefit assessment pursuant to this chapter to finance the maintenance and operation costs of these services:

(1)Drainage.

(2)Flood control.

(3)Street lighting.

(b)Any local agency which is authorized by law to maintain streets, roads, or highways may impose a benefit assessment pursuant to this chapter to pay for the maintenance of those streets, roads, or highways.

§ 54710.3

Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 446, Sec. 1.5.

Any local agency which obligates itself to advance available funds to cure a bond redemption fund deficiency pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 8769 of the Streets and Highways Code may impose a benefit assessment pursuant to this chapter in order to satisfy the obligation or in anticipation of having to satisfy the obligation, except that the assessment shall not exceed thirty dollars ($30) per parcel per year, shall be actually levied and collected in any year only if needed because of a bond redemption fund deficiency, and shall only be used to cure redemption fund deficiencies with respect to assessment districts, the area of which is at least 60 percent developed.

§ 54710.5

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 487, Sec. 3. Effective July 10, 1982.

Any local agency which is authorized by law to provide drainage services or flood control services may, in addition to imposing a benefit assessment for the purposes authorized pursuant to Section 54710, impose such an assessment to finance the cost of installation and improvement of facilities.

§ 54711

Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 966, Sec. 1.

(a)No benefit assessment shall be levied pursuant to this chapter unless it meets all of the following requirements:

(1)The amount of the assessment imposed on any parcel of property shall be related to the benefit to the parcel which will be derived from the provision of the service. Except as provided in subdivision (d) or (e) of Section 54715, in the case of a benefit assessment for flood control services, the benefit may be determined on the basis of the proportionate storm water runoff from each parcel. In the case of an assessment for the maintenance of streets, roads, or highways, the benefit may be in proportion to the estimated traffic volume to be generated by each parcel assessed, or any other reasonable basis as determined by the legislative body. In the case of an assessment to cure bond fund deficiencies pursuant to Section 54710.3, all parcels subject to the assessment may be assumed to benefit equally from the jurisdiction’s improved ability to finance special benefit projects through assessments at lower cost, due to the added security provided by the assessment levied pursuant to this chapter.

(2)The annual aggregate amount of the assessment shall not exceed the estimated annual cost of providing the service, except that the legislative body may, by resolution, determine that the estimated cost of work authorized pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54710 is greater than can be conveniently raised from a single annual assessment and order that the estimated cost shall be raised by an assessment levied and collected in installments over a period not to exceed five fiscal years.

(3)The revenue derived from the assessment shall not be used to pay the cost of any service other than the service for which the assessment was levied.

(b)This section does not limit or prohibit the levy or collection of any other fee, charge, or tax for the provision of services, except that a maintenance district formed pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1550) of Division 2 of the Streets and Highways Code may impose an assessment pursuant to this chapter only as an alternative to imposing a property tax for the provision of street lighting services.

§ 54712

Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 330, Sec. 13. (SB 1090) Effective January 1, 2013.

Any local agency levying a benefit assessment pursuant to this chapter may bring an action to determine the validity of the assessment pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure upon adoption of the assessment and for 60 days thereafter. If the agency does not bring its own action under Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, then Sections 863 and 869 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall not apply.