 The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 authorizes formation of community facilities districts to finance various public facilities through the levy of special taxes against the area where said services and/or facilities are being provided. Facilities that can be provided under a community facilities district (CFD) include the purchase, construction, expansion, or rehabilitation of any governmental facilities the city is authorized to construct, own, or operate and even some private buildings or sites where seismic, fire safety, or hazardous waste standards need to be met.
The statute can also fund the following maintenance and services:
- Police and fire protection
- Ambulance
- Recreation
- Library services
- Park parkways
- Open space operations and maintenance
- Flood control and storm drain maintenance.
A community facilities district may be initiated by a petition or through legislative action. A noticed public hearing and an election are required. The levy of a special tax and/or authorization to issue bonds for long-term financing requires a favorable two thirds vote of the registered voters residing within the proposed community facilities district. However, if the district has less than 12 registered voters in its boundaries, a two-thirds favorable vote of the property owners owning property in the district is required. |
