Thirteen of the 29 county service areas could see fees increase
for their residents by as much as $845, while upset citizens from
some CSAs opposed the hikes at a public hearing Tuesday before
supervisors approved the changes, now set for a mail-in ballot. Due
to mismanagement of CSAs in the past, the county has been working
to make sure that the 29 areas are paying for the services that
they receive.
HOLLISTER
Thirteen of the 29 county service areas are one step closer to paying as much as $845 per year, after years of paying nothing, for services after the San Benito County Board of Supervisors recently approved fees. The fees, which will not go into effect until they are approved by CSA residents, are to pay for services above and beyond what other county residents receive.
The rise in fees spurred many citizens to speak at a public hearing with the supervisors Tuesday. A county service area resident told the board that “we’ve been screwed” in regard to the new fees that may take effect after a mail-ballot election is given later this year.
“Homeowners are very passionate about a couple of things. No. 1 is that we get the service that we are paying for. We see occasional service out there,” said Dunnville resident Doug Herring. “The second is that the overwhelming feeling that we’ve been screwed by this report. Paying 15 percent of the total report for a CSA of 30 homes is absolutely ridiculous.”
Due to mismanagement of CSAs in the past, the county has been working to make sure that the 29 areas are paying for the services that they receive. These services, ranging from street lighting to water and wastewater management, are above and beyond what other county residents pay.
The board-approved fees will not take effect until CSA residents approve them by a mail-ballot election, which will conclude on August 25.
Acting Public Works Administrator Janelle Cox gave the Free Lance a spreadsheet of the proposed fee change for each CSA.
The biggest increase is in CSA 33, Torrano, which goes from $0 to $845. The reason that CSA will have such a great jump in price is because there were no fees assigned to them and they have been paying for services through their reserve fund. Torrano is only paying for storm drain services, road maintenance and utility costs, which generally includes street lighting.
The new fees for Torrano residents will pay for its current services, which totals $5,306, and will start to establish a reserve for future costs.
All of the CSAs, with the exception of Santa Ana Estates/Holiday Ranch Estates, will potentially see an increase in the yearly fees unless the mail-ballot is voted down by residents.
Residents in the Dunnville CSA would have been looking at an increase in annual fees of around $751. However, at this week’s meeting, residents of Dunnville, Rancho Larios and Cielo decided that they didn’t want to pay for these services by having a majority protest. Residents were allowed to do so through the Proposition 218 process that requires a government to have an election to raise fees for citizens. If the public is not willing to pay for services, the proposition allows them to not have to pay.
Herring, the Dunnville resident who spoke, also said he needs to know when things are going to be done and to what level before residents can determine whether they want to pay for those services.
“We brought it up at the meeting. We’ve not got an answer for that and we need to get an answer for that … Until we get an answer for that, I think you’ll find almost unanimous opposition from our group.”
Along with comments about the financing of services at the CSAs, many residents brought up the level of quality of services in different areas. Quail Hollow resident Manny Amaral said that with the former contractor in charge of landscaping, the services at the CSA were “adequate.”
He said he does not have a problem with rising prices for services, just as long as it takes care of the what needs to be done.
“What I do have a problem with is that the rates go up and the service goes down. That’s what we’ve seen so far in the last two months,” Amaral said.
Ten-year Union Heights resident Andrea Bentson said she thinks taxpayers should be responsible for the services received but she has received “almost zero.”
“Who is accountable to us? We can never get anybody to give you an answer,” she said. “If you’re going to ask me to spend $500 more on my taxes, I want something in return for my money.”
Bentson added that her husband has called the county many times and heard nothing back.
“What recourse do we have? I know the county has recourse if we don’t (pay).”
For the three CSAs that had a majority protest, Cox said the county will have to meet those residents to determine if they would like to keep any of the services or what service they may need the county to still provide.
New property related fees for some county service areas and current fees
– CSA 16 – Santa Ana/Holiday Estates – Proposed fee, $173/year; Current fee, $207/year
– CSA 46 – Quail Hollow – Proposed fee, $405/year; Current fee, $373/year
– CSA 19 – Springwood – Proposed fee, $44/year; Current fee, zero
– CSA 54 – Pacheco Creek Estates – Proposed fee; $801/year – Current fee, $171/year
– CSA 48 – Dry Creek – Proposed fee, $292/year; Current fee, zero
– CSA 28 – Heatherwood/Fox Hill – Proposed fee, $464/year; Current fee, zero
