Minutes - 20070412 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Based on this model, the BOCC would exclude {"forgive") a certain percentage of the entire assessment project cost, thereby decreasing the assessment charge for every resident/property owner regardless of economic status. In addition, the BOCC would provide ("absorb") a fixed cap per lot to further buy-down the individual assessment. Advantages: - Flexible since the BOCC decides an the overall project "discount" and per property "cap" that determine the subsidy - Easy to articulate and defend within mixed income populations - Relief not reliant upon personal economic variables ar the need to self-identify - Builds on notions of community "participation" and "partnership" Disadvantages: - Reduces the amount of revenue returned for reinvestment - Income-neutral way to provide assessment relief Connection Costs -Also Covered by the Assistance Program: Connection costs to public waterlsewer services are an additional expense associated with an assessment function. In order to be served, the property owner/household must decide to connect to the service. Connection costs typically include service laterals from the home to the water/sewer, and if needed, changes to plumbing under the house to connect to the service lateral, and taking an old septic system out of service. Actual connection costs would depend upon the scope or work and authorized contractor. The property awnerlhousehold would decide when to connect to the service, assuming the septic system in place meets health code requirements to remain in use. The BOCC - as in the case with OWASA -has no current requirement to connect to public sewer if a septic system is performing properly. Staff recommends that any option the BOCC chooses for an assessment relief assistance program for income eligible property ownerslhouseholds also include grant assistance for actual costs of connection. The connection assistance program would again be modeled after Option 2 {and the Rogers Road Waterline Connection Project), in that applicants with income less than 80 percent of the median would have all connection costs paid by the County; applicants with income above 80 to 100 percent of the median would have half the connection costs paid by the County. Conclusion: