Local government: assessment: elections procedures.

Articles XIII C and XIII D of the California Constitution generally require that assessments, fees, and charges be submitted to property owners for approval or rejection after the provision of written notice and the holding of a public hearing. Existing law, the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act, prescribes specific procedures and parameters for local jurisdictions to comply with Articles XIII C and XIII D of the California Constitution. Existing statutory law provides notice, protest, and hearing procedures for the levying of new or increased assessments, fees, and charges by local government agencies pursuant to Articles XIII C and XIII D of the California Constitution. This bill would, where a proposed fee or charge is submitted to the registered voters residing in the affected area for approval, require a county elections official to conduct that election. This bill would also require, if a local government agency opts to submit the proposed fee or charge for approval by a vote of the subject property owners, as provided, that specified procedures be applied regarding the form and tabulation of ballots. The bill would become operative on July 1, 2014. By creating new requirements for property assessments conducted by counties and cities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.