To Begin With




Q: WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS CAN BE MADE THROUGH ASSESSMENTS?
A: The following are some types of projects that can be made through assessments:

Q:   What do you mean – “special assessment proceedings?”
A: .It’s a democratic way by which a majority of you and your neighbors can get together to pave your street, build sewers, etc. and pay your fair share over a period of time.

Q:   Tell me more - what’s the authority?
A: Generally speaking it’s the “Improvement Act of 1911”… a State law.  If you’re interested in looking further into this, it’s Division 7 of the Streets and Highways Code, obtainable in the public library.

Q:   Who pays for the improvements?
A: You the property owner.

Q:   Why doesn’t the City pay for all of them?
A: Because “the City” is “you”… and if this were the practice, you would end up paying for everybody else’s street.  The assessment district procedure is the fairest.

Q:   But how about the gas tax money and all the other taxes I pay each year?
A: Generally speaking tax money is not used for purely local improvements.  It’s the policy in this and most other cities  to require that local improvements be paid for by the benefiting property and not out of general taxes which are needed for other things.  On major streets, gas taxes are used to pay for part of the costs.

Q:   What kind of work can be done under assessment proceedings?
A:   The usual things are curbs, gutters, pavement, sidewalks, storm drains, street lights, sewers and street trees.

Q:   What kind of sewers?
A:   Mainline and lateral to your property line.  For further information regarding connections to sewers see MORE ABOUT SEWERS .

Q:   Are certain improvements mandatory?
A:   Yes… it is council policy that all street projects include sidewalk, street trees and street lights unless unusual circumstances are present.  City policy also requires installation of sewers where permanent pavement is to be installed.

Q:   Are there any rough estimates available for different types of work?
A:   Yes… following are some figures for a normal residential 50-foot lot of average depth, that may be useful:
 

 
Average
Usual Range
Street Lighting
$1,000
$850 – 1,450
Sewers (Within street to property line only):
    
     Non-hilly terrain
5,600
4,600 – 7,000
     Hilly terrain
8,500
5,700 – 13,500
Street Paving (including curb and gutter)
5,400
4,900 – 7,000
Sidewalk (less driveways)
950
650 – 1,100
Concrete driveway entrance (average Res.. type) 
1,050
950 – 1,350 
Parkway trees (average of one per lot)
400
300 – 500 
Alley Paving:
    
     10’ width
2,500
2,000 – 3,500
     15’ width
3,500
2,500 – 4,500
     20’ width
4,500
2,750 – 5,750 
Tree wells
280
200 – 360
Tree well covers
280
200 – 360 
  (Estimated as of July 1, 1988 for anticipated start of construction by July 1, 1990.)
 

Q:   What might cause my assessment to be higher than the usual range?
A:   Extra grading, retaining walls, hilly terrain, rocky or sandy soil, ground water, storm drains, utility relocation, commercial improvements, size, slope, location and zoning of your lot, size of project, right of way costs, inflation, etc.

Q:   How do I benefit?
A:   Well, here are some of the benefits: