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Special
Assessment Districts
Permanent
Road
Divisions
County Service Areas
Street Lighting District
Stormwater Maintenance Zones
Landscape Maintenance District
Other Assessment Districts
HOW AND WHY A SPECIAL DISTRICT IS
FORMED
PERMANENT ROAD
DIVISION: Enable property owners to improve and maintain roads in their
area if certain criteria are met.
District formations typically take from 12 to 18 months and are a multi-step process
stipulated by State law. At least one road in the proposed district must
connect with a publicly maintained road. Costs are shared by the property owners according to
the amount of benefit their parcel receives from the improvement or
service. Loans may be available to finance road projects.
Majority support of property owners is required.
COUNTY SERVICE
AREAS: Pursued by area property owners for non-road related infrastructure and to
maintain parks, and pay for fire prevention and emergency medical
services. District formations typically take two to three years and
include Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) review and
approval. Majority support of property owners is required.
Limited loans may be available to finance projects.
STREET
LIGHTING DISTRICT: This
District provides funding for the installation, operation and maintenance
of street lighting facilities. This
countywide district was formed under the Landscape and Lighting Act of
1972 (Streets and Highways Code, Section 22500, et seq.).
The unincorporated area is divided into two zones: Zone A is
anywhere property owners are assessed by the District.
Zone B is made up of areas where properties are not assessed.
These properties either have not yet been developed or were already
developed before lights were required.
By following annexation procedures, it is possible for areas in
Zone B to be transferred to Zone A.
STORMWATER
MAINTENANCE ZONES:
These zones provide long-term
financing for maintenance of Category 3 stormwater facilities which offer
substantial water quality protection.
Having the San Diego County Flood Control District assume
maintenance responsibility for these kinds of facilities serves the
public’s best interest.
LANDSCAPE
MAINTENANCE DISTRICT:
Zones within this district are formed under the authority of the
Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972. LMD
zones provide long-term funding for maintenance of public facilities
including, median or parkway landscaping, parks, trails and open space.
These zones provide for maintenance of already constructed
facilities which are declared public and must meet County specified
standards before being accepted.
OTHER
ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS:
Assessment districts can be formed
to fund improvements and maintenance for various kinds of public
infrastructure. State laws
enable the formation of districts for road improvements, parks, open
space, street lighting and various other municipal services or
improvements. Before districts
can be formed, Counties must identify which specific legislation (state
laws) authorizes the intended formation.
The formation of all districts must comply with Proposition 218
(1996), also known as the “Right to Vote on Taxes Act”, which amended
the California Constitution.
Districts are usually formed by property owners wishing to finance costly
infrastructure. The average
time to form a district is about two years and it is generally a costly
process. Extremely large,
complex or controversial districts can take longer to form.
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