Special Charges and Assessments on Your Property Tax Bill
‘Tis the season for the first installment of our annual property tax. Like many Around Dublin readers, I sometimes scratch my head when trying to figure out what all the special assessments are for on our property tax statements. When local districts or agencies collect fees through property tax rolls, they receive 100% of the amounts billed to property owners, regardless of the actual amounts collected. Alameda County charges the districts and agencies a per-property fee and assume both the risk of nonpayment and the rewards of penalties and interest. Here’s a brief summary of what your money pays for:
- Mosquito Abatement and Mosquito Assessment 2 - these assessments help to pay for the management of mosquito sources and eradication of mosquitoes in abandoned pools. The first item approved by voters was for $1.74. The second item of $1.50 was placed on the ballot and approved to help cover the inflation and expansion of services.
- CSA Paramedic – this is a $25.94 tax for the countywide emergency medical services system, such as trauma centers and the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services District. There are additional charges on top of this for folks that need to use paramedic resources.
- CSA Vector Control and CSA Vector Control B – these charge helps to pay for the management of little critters like raccoons, squirrels, and troublesome critters. Similar to mosquito abatement, a second charge was added to cover inflation and expansion of services.
- Paramedic Supplement – this is a $6 City of Dublin charge that helps to cover some of the salary, equipment, and training for life support resources.
- Dublin San Ramon Services District - instead of paying sewer fees bi-monthly along with water consumption charges, effective July 1, 2008 Dublin home owners (single-family homes, condominiums, and townhouses) pay for sewer services on our property tax bills.
- DUSD Measure L Parcel Tax – this was the $96/year 5-year tax approved by voters in November 2008 to help bridge the DUSD operating budget deficits. Based on the strong approval for this tax (71% in an on-cycle election), another similar parcel tax will most likely get teed-up for voters within 3-4 years.
- East Bay Trails Landscaping and Lighting District (LLD) – a $5.44 assessment to help maintain East Bay Regional parks and trails in Dublin.
- Dublin Ranch Street Lighting District - Dublin wanted to ensure that west-side residents didn’t have to share expenses related to development in east Dublin. As part of this mandate, east Dublin residents are required to pay an assessment to operate and maintain street lights. Charges vary based on districts within east Dublin.
If approved, the new City of Dublin tax will likely be a parcel tax that will appear in this section starting with the 2011-2012 property tax year.
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9:09 AM on November 5th, 2009
thank you for posting this! i usually just pay it and roll my eyes at all the extra fees.
i appreciate knowing what they are and feel better about where my money is going now.