The San Benito County Board of Supervisors today approved County
Service Area property-related fees for 26 of the 29 areas. The
board approved the fees after holding a public hearing to establish
if there were any members of the public or residents from the CSAs
who wanted to protest the increase for services.
HOLLISTER
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors today approved County Service Area property-related fees for 26 of the 29 areas. The board approved the fees after holding a public hearing to establish if there were any members of the public or residents from the CSAs who wanted to protest the increase for services.
During the public hearing, many CSA residents voiced concerns over the level of service provided to their areas.
“In addition to the costs, I’m wondering what level of service is going to come along with it,” said Holiday Estates resident Christine Morrell. “There is a gentleman that does come out in a little truck and he parks next to our culvert and he sits there for about 25 minutes. He gets out and he looks and then he drives away.”
Union Heights Homeowners Association President Richard Ferreira said the problem isn’t so much the “vehicle of the CSAs.”
“It’s what service we’re getting out of the CSAs,” he said.
Ferreira, who was original developer of the Union Heights, said he worked with the public works department in the past to develop the services the CSA now receives. He added that Union Heights does have money in its spending account to pay for services but the county is not providing them.
“What recourse do we have?” Ferreira said. “The problem you have is not the vehicle of the county service areas – it’s the lack of work and response. The people are not getting what they are paying for and that is a problem.”
For Morrell, the problem is not how much she has to pay for services. She would like to see action.
“I don’t have an issue with the economy and budgets – you know, having to put a little bit extra – but I want to see a level of service. If we are going to get a service, I want to see it.”
The three CSAs that had a majority protest, Cielo Vista, Rancho Larios and Dunneville, will not have a mail-ballot to approve higher fees for each of its services. For the remaining 26 CSAs that didn’t protest the fees, a mail-ballot will be sent out and an election will be held to approve the new fees for various services.
The election will be closed on August 25, when all ballots must be returned. If a CSA resident does not mail his or her ballot, it will be counted as a “yes” vote.
For a list of the new fees for each CSA and more reaction at the supervisors meeting, look to www.freelancenews.com Wednesday.
