HOLLISTER
Supervisors Tuesday could direct staff to establish guidelines surrounding oversight of county service areas – special tax districts in geographic zones funding certain services – and to set the stage for fee adjustments in light of an examination last year that found the management of the 30 CSAs needed vast improvement.
Supervisors have two resolutions on the table related to the CSA program at the 9 a.m. meeting Tuesday at the County Administration Building, 481 Fourth St. One would move ahead on setting up guidelines relating to various CSA funds – such as those holding reserve dollars – and the other would signal the board’s “intention” to propose “related fees” to the analysis.
CSAs are intended to fund such services as road and streetlight maintenance or sewer work. Of the 30 CSAs, the largest in San Benito County is Ridgemark, which includes 1,063 parcels. Overall, there are 2,291 parcels within the county’s 30 CSAs, according to a board staff report.
Preceding the supervisors’ consideration Tuesday, the board months ago enlisted help of an outside firm to hold a series of required meetings with CSA residents, examine those districts’ finances and ultimately recommend new rates.
The decisions are leading up to the likelihood for a proposed, new rate structure and a public hearing on CSA fees and oversight on May 26.
