Thursday, 28 September 2006 02:05

Jackson Discusses Implementing Community Facilities District’s For New Development

Community Facilities District Information regarding Community Facilities Districts for Fire Department funding was presented to the Jackson City Council Monday night. City Manager Mike Daly presented the item and explained that, “(the Facilities district) is basically like a benefit assessment district that is applied to new subdivisions to allow the city to provide funding to enhance services in order to provide the service level needed to meet demands.” Daly also said that the county has adopted the district for the unincorporated areas of the county. He said that the Communities Facilities District (CFD) must be approved by a two-thirds margin of qualified voters within the CFD area.

RosaLee Pryor EscamillaDaly stated that if approved the property owners would be responsible for the payment of a “special tax” which is used to provide services or facilities. The current maximum tax rate is $515.30 per year for a residential single family property. Council person RosaLee Pryor Escamilla asked if once the CFD is formed if the tax could increase and Daly said that there is an escalation amount that will not exceed 2% and that anything over that would have to be approved by a vote from the council. Daly pointed out that Sutter Creek is currently in the process of adopting the County’s model for the CFD that enables new subdivisions with in the City to annex into the original CFD formed by the County and that it is recommended that Jackson do the same.

Community Facilities DistrictIt was the clarified that if the City decided to move forward with pursuing a Community Facilities District that sufficient opportunities for public input would be provided before it is ultimately passed. The council then directed staff to begin preparing the documents necessary to annex into Amador County CFD 2006-1 for emergency fire services funding