Bill Would Toughen Test for District Fees

In response to failed attempts by several Orange County school districts to impose fees on residents for property maintenance, Sen. John Lewis (R-Orange) introduced a bill Tuesday which would require two-thirds voter approval of such fees.

“These so-called ‘maintenance assessment districts’ were, in fact, property taxes,” Lewis said. “Under Proposition 13, property taxes can’t be raised without the approval of two-thirds of the voters. (The bill will) bring school and community college districts into compliance with the spirit of Proposition 13, the 1978 ballot initiative that revamped California’s property tax laws.

Seven Orange County school districts, including Placentia-Yorba Linda, Orange, Fountain Valley and a consortium of four Huntington Beach school districts, voted for the fee under a provision of the state Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972. The law allows special assessment districts to impose fees on residents who use common property.

The law was mostly used to pay for services such as street lighting and median landscaping. Legally, school districts can impose the fee without a popular vote. The seven school districts did so to free money for classroom teaching.

Although many residents supported the move, the action so outraged residents countywide that all seven districts rescinded the fee amid threats to recall votes against district trustees.

Most residents’ groups dropped the recall drives, but a consortium of Westminster-area residents pressed ahead. Their campaign fizzled last week when they missed a deadline to file a petition with the state.

“In light of the new Supreme Court ruling that strengthens Proposition 13 and the provisions regarding special taxes, we feel confident that the bill will be passed,” said Chris Jones, Lewis’ chief of staff.