2007 California Government Code Article 3. Authorization: Requisites For Assessment

CA Codes (gov:54710-54711)

54710.  (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.  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 () 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.  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.  (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.