BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 715|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 715
Author: Dickinson (D)
Amended: 6/16/14 in Senate
Vote: 21
PRIOR VOTES NOT RELEVANT
SUBJECT : Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency: assessments
SOURCE : Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency
DIGEST : This bill revises cross-references and deletes
obsolete provisions of the Evidence Code. This bill authorizes
the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) to change the
boundaries of any assessment district in accordance with
specified procedures.
Senate Floor Amendments of 6/16/14 delete the bill's contents
and replace them with language authorizing SAFCA to make changes
to its existing assessment districts.
ANALYSIS : Existing law SAFCA allows it to levy assessments
and issue bonds to finance the acquisition, construction,
maintenance, or operation of flood control facilities.
This bill revises cross-references and deletes obsolete
provisions of the Evidence Code. This bill authorizes SAFCA to
change, consistent with specified constitutional and statutory
requirements, any of the following:
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The boundaries of any assessment district established by
SAFCA.
Any projects identified in the report prepared by SAFCA when
it formed an assessment district.
Any assessments levied by SAFCA.
Any act, determination, or provision by SAFCA or the SAFCA
board with respect to any assessment district established by
SAFCA.
Background
SAFCA was formed in 1989 by local agencies eager to address the
deficiencies in Sacramento's flood control system identified by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) following the flood of
1986. Through a joint exercise of powers agreement, the City of
Sacramento (City), County of Sacramento (County), the Sacramento
County Water Agency, Sutter County, the Sutter County Water
Agency, the American River Flood Control District (ARFCD), and
Reclamation District 1000 (RD 1000) pooled their common flood
control authorities, established a management structure, and
identified a program for improving Sacramento's flood control
system. This program has three elements:
Ensure the structural integrity of the existing levee system;
Provide at least a 100-year level of flood protection as
quickly as possible to the areas within the FEMA 100-year
floodplain by, among other actions, increasing the space
available for flood control at Folsom Dam and Reservoir
(Folsom); and
Work toward achieving at least a 200-year level of flood
protection for the Sacramento area.
SAFCA finances the local share of the cost to improve
Sacramento's flood control system, by creating assessment
districts and levying annual assessments on properties which
benefit from the improvements. These assessments are billed on
Sacramento County's and Sutter County's annual real property tax
bill.
Forming an assessment district and levying the resulting
assessments is a two-step process: (1) formation of the
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assessment district and (2) approval of the governing body and
property owners of the levy of the assessment. The SAFCA Act
provides the legal authority for formation of assessment
districts. However, unlike the Municipal Improvement Act of
1913, the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972, and other
comparable financing authorities, the SAFCA Act does not provide
the legal authority to make any changes to an existing
assessment district.
Comments
According to the author, "Now that the President has signed
legislation authorizing the Natomas Levee project, it is up to
our community to come up with the required matching funds to
finish the Natomas Levee project. This bill does not change the
vote or noticing requirements and is fully consistent with Prop
218 and the California Constitution."
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local:
No
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/18/14)
Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (source)
AB:k 6/18/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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