A Property Owner's Guide
How to Form an Assessment District for:
- Alley Improvements
- Sidewalk Improvements |
- Street Lighting
- Undergrounding of Utilities |
What is an Assessment District?
An Assessment District is a means for property owners to finance desired improvements in the public right-of-way that the City typically does not or cannot fund. Such improvements can include the paving or repaving of alleys, the undergrounding of power lines, the installation of sidewalks, and the upgrading or installation of new street or alley lighting. Through a process dictated by state law (summarized on the back of this pamphlet) the property owners agree to have the City arrange for the issuance of a bond to pay for the improvements and, once the project is completed, have the annual payments included in their property tax bill.
What are the actions required to determine if an Assessment District should be formed?
A property owner acting in the lead for this process contacts the City at the telephone number on the back of this pamphlet. The City will then prepare a petition that must be signed by all of the affected property owners. If two thrids of those signing the petition are interested in forming an assessment district, the City will conduct a Cost and Feasibility Study for the desired improvements.
After the study is completed, the City will mail to each affected property owner the estimated project cost and their estimated prorated share of the costs. Included in this mailing will be a postcard survey card, addressed to the City, for the property owner to indicate whether he or she still supports the formation of the assessment district.
If property owners representing 2/3 of the area benefiting from the requested improvements are in support of the project, the City will proceed with the formation process.
The postcard survey does NOT commit the property owners to finance the project. It only indicates sufficient support for the City to go forward with the assessment district formation process.
How is the Assessment District formed?
The formation process starts with the preparation of an Engineer's Report which includes construction plans, a detailed cost estimate, a map showing all of the properties to be included in the district, and the estimated assessments for each property. The City Council then approves the Preliminary Engineer's Report, adopts a Resolution of Intention to form the Assessment District, sets a public hearing date, and authorizes advertising for construction bids. Forty-five (45) days before the public hearing, each affected property owner will be mailed a Notice of Public Hearing and an official Assessment Ballot showing their proposed assessment.
The ballots are due by the end of the public hearing. At the end of the public hearing, the ballots will be tabulated. If the returned ballots favor the project by at least 50% (based on the assessment amount), the City Council may approve the District and award the construction contract.
When does construction begin and assessments are levied?
Once the Assessment District is approved by the City Council, construction of the improvements will commence under the direction of the City Engineer. The City will also arrange for the issuance of the bonds that will finance the Improvements. The County Tax Assessors Office includes the assessment amount on annual property tax bills within the District for each property owner's share of the annual bond payment. Bond payments typically range from 10 to 15 years and can be paid off early if the property owner so desires.
How long will this process take?
From the time the initial petition is received by the City until the improvements are completed typically takes up to two years, depending on the type of improvements. Sidewalk and alley paving require less time while lighting and utility undergrounding require more.
Process Steps:
Contact:
562-570-6996
City of Long Beach
Department of Public Works
Bureau of Engineering
333 West Ocean Blvd, 10th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
This information is available in an alternative format by request.
An Assessment District is a means for property owners to finance desired improvements in the public right-of-way that the City typically does not or cannot fund. Such improvements can include the paving or repaving of alleys, the undergrounding of power lines, the installation of sidewalks, and the upgrading or installation of new street or alley lighting. Through a process dictated by state law (summarized on the back of this pamphlet) the property owners agree to have the City arrange for the issuance of a bond to pay for the improvements and, once the project is completed, have the annual payments included in their property tax bill.
What are the actions required to determine if an Assessment District should be formed?
A property owner acting in the lead for this process contacts the City at the telephone number on the back of this pamphlet. The City will then prepare a petition that must be signed by all of the affected property owners. If two thrids of those signing the petition are interested in forming an assessment district, the City will conduct a Cost and Feasibility Study for the desired improvements.
After the study is completed, the City will mail to each affected property owner the estimated project cost and their estimated prorated share of the costs. Included in this mailing will be a postcard survey card, addressed to the City, for the property owner to indicate whether he or she still supports the formation of the assessment district.
If property owners representing 2/3 of the area benefiting from the requested improvements are in support of the project, the City will proceed with the formation process.
The postcard survey does NOT commit the property owners to finance the project. It only indicates sufficient support for the City to go forward with the assessment district formation process.
How is the Assessment District formed?
The formation process starts with the preparation of an Engineer's Report which includes construction plans, a detailed cost estimate, a map showing all of the properties to be included in the district, and the estimated assessments for each property. The City Council then approves the Preliminary Engineer's Report, adopts a Resolution of Intention to form the Assessment District, sets a public hearing date, and authorizes advertising for construction bids. Forty-five (45) days before the public hearing, each affected property owner will be mailed a Notice of Public Hearing and an official Assessment Ballot showing their proposed assessment.
The ballots are due by the end of the public hearing. At the end of the public hearing, the ballots will be tabulated. If the returned ballots favor the project by at least 50% (based on the assessment amount), the City Council may approve the District and award the construction contract.
When does construction begin and assessments are levied?
Once the Assessment District is approved by the City Council, construction of the improvements will commence under the direction of the City Engineer. The City will also arrange for the issuance of the bonds that will finance the Improvements. The County Tax Assessors Office includes the assessment amount on annual property tax bills within the District for each property owner's share of the annual bond payment. Bond payments typically range from 10 to 15 years and can be paid off early if the property owner so desires.
How long will this process take?
From the time the initial petition is received by the City until the improvements are completed typically takes up to two years, depending on the type of improvements. Sidewalk and alley paving require less time while lighting and utility undergrounding require more.
Process Steps:
- Property Owner Requests Petition
- City sends out Petition Package to Property Owner
- 2/3 of Area Sign Petition
- City sends out Postcard Survey to all property owners with estimated costs
- 2/3 of Area in favor
- Improvement Design and Assessment Formation Procedure is started
- Preparation of Engineer's Report
- City Council Approves Resolution of Intention to form the Assessment District
- City sends out Assessment Ballots to all affected Property Owners
- Public Hearing & Ballot Tabulation
- 50% approval by Assessment Amount (only ballots returned are counted)
- City Council may form Assessment District
Contact:
562-570-6996
City of Long Beach
Department of Public Works
Bureau of Engineering
333 West Ocean Blvd, 10th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
This information is available in an alternative format by request.