Section § 36570

Explanation

This law requires the assessor to evaluate the value of all land within a district for tax purposes right after the district is formed and every year thereafter. However, if all the necessary funds are collected by other means, then there is no need to perform this assessment or prepare related documents.

Between the date on which the district was formed and 90 days thereafter, and between those dates in each succeeding year, the assessor shall assess all land, except that if all funds required to be raised are raised other than by assessment, no assessment need be levied and no assessment book need be prepared or equalized.

Section § 36571

Explanation

This law section mandates that all land must be evaluated and taxed based on its full market value, meaning the price it could reasonably sell for in an open market.

All of the land shall be assessed at its full cash value.

Section § 36572

Explanation

The law states that the assessor must prepare an assessment book with specific headings. This book will list all the land being assessed and must be submitted to the clerk of the board of supervisors within a designated time frame.

The assessor shall, within the time for assessing the land, file with the clerk of the board of supervisors an assessment book with appropriate headings in which shall be listed all of the land.

Section § 36573

Explanation

This section outlines what information must be included in an assessment book for land. It must have the landowner's name, a description that identifies the land, and the land's cash value. If the landowner's name isn't known, that should be noted.

The assessment book shall contain:
(a)CA Water Code § 36573(a) The name of the holder of title to the land if known, and if unknown, that fact shall be stated.
(b)CA Water Code § 36573(b) A description of the land sufficient to identify it.
(c)CA Water Code § 36573(c) The cash value of the land.

Section § 36574

Explanation

If a district covers more than one county, the assessment book must have separate sections for the land in each county. Each section should be in its own volume.

If the district is contained in more than one county the assessment book shall be prepared with a separate part in a separate volume for the land in each county.

Section § 36575

Explanation

This law allows a board to instruct an assessor to use the county's assessed land value as the land's cash value for assessment purposes. However, if the county's assessed roll includes the value of mineral rights (like oil or gas) under the land, the assessor must deduct that value before determining the land's cash value.

In lieu of assessing the land, as aforesaid, the board may direct the assessor to, and the assessor shall thereupon adopt as the cash value of the land, and shall insert in the assessment book as such cash value the value of the land as the same appears on the assessment roll of the county in which the land is situated, except that any value of rights to minerals, oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances underlying the land which may be included in the assessed value of the land on the assessment roll of such county, shall be deducted by the assessor from such assessed value and the remainder of such assessed value shall be adopted as the cash value of the land, and inserted in the assessment book as such cash value.

Section § 36576

Explanation

This law allows a water district that hasn't delivered water yet to impose a special assessment (a type of charge) on land within the district. This charge is up to $3 per acre each year. It helps cover costs while planning and building water delivery systems mainly for agriculture.

Notwithstanding Section 36571, until such time as a district which has not theretofore delivered water for any purpose puts into operation facilities for the delivery of water, the board may levy a special assessment of an equal amount upon each acre of land within the district sufficient to defray all expenses as estimated by the board to be incurred for the general benefit of the district during the period in which facilities for the delivery of water primarily for agricultural purposes are being planned and constructed. In no event shall such equal amount assessment exceed three dollars ($3) per acre per year.

Section § 36577

Explanation

This law allows a board to choose a different way to assess land value within a district. Instead of using its cash value or the county assessed value, the board can decide to value the land based on the benefits the land receives. They will direct the assessor to use the value they determine.

In lieu of assessing all land pursuant to its cash value as set forth in Section 36571 or the county assessed value pursuant to Section 36575, the board may provide for an alternative method of valuation based upon the benefits bestowed on the land by directing the assessor to, and the assessor shall thereafter, adopt as the assessed value of all land in the district an amount determined by the board pursuant to Section 36578.

Section § 36578

Explanation

This law outlines the process for valuing land in a district based on benefits, rather than typical property tax methods. First, if a district board decides to use this system, they must hold a public hearing allowing property owners and residents to speak. Notice of the hearing must be posted and mailed to landowners 20 days in advance. During the hearing, evidence on valuation schedules can be presented. After the hearing, the board sets valuation schedules that reflect the benefits properties receive from the district, considering factors like the type of land use and whether land is irrigated or not. The board then takes on certain administrative roles typically held by county bodies regarding property tax matters. Importantly, districts using this method won't receive property tax allocations and must notify the county auditor of this decision.

If the board elects to have land within the district valued pursuant to Section 36577, the following procedures shall apply:
(a)CA Water Code § 36578(a) Prior to its adoption of a valuation based upon benefits under this section, the board shall hold a public hearing at which owners of property or residents of the district may appear and be heard. Notice of the hearing shall be given by the secretary by posting notice thereof at the district office at least 20 days prior to the hearing, stating the purpose, time, and place of hearing, together with publication thereof in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the district has land in accordance with Section 6063 of the Government Code. The notice shall also be mailed to each landowner as shown in the records of the district at least 20 days prior to the hearing.
(b)CA Water Code § 36578(b) At the hearing, evidence shall be introduced by the assessor and may be introduced by landowners or residents within the district as to the valuation schedules to be adopted by the board.
(c)CA Water Code § 36578(c) At the conclusion of the hearing, or as it may be continued from time to time, the board shall adopt a schedule of valuations on a per acre basis, or fractions thereof, for agricultural land and on a parcel, acreage, or square foot basis for nonagricultural land. The schedule shall reflect the proportional benefits bestowed on the property assessed by the operation of the district. Land may be classified as to direct or indirect receipt of district benefit, irrigated or nonirrigated use, commercial, industrial, or residential use, or any other method which reflects the benefits received.
(d)CA Water Code § 36578(d) Upon the board’s adoption of a schedule of valuations, the duties and responsibilities of the board of supervisors and clerk of the board of supervisors established in this chapter and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 36725) shall be carried out by the board and secretary of the district, respectively.
(e)CA Water Code § 36578(e) There shall be no allocation of property tax revenues pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 95) of Part 0.5 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code to any district that utilizes the provisions of Section 36577. Each district utilizing Section 36577 shall notify the county auditor pursuant to Section 100 of the Revenue and Taxation Code that the district does not desire to receive a property tax allocation.

Section § 36579

Explanation

This law allows a board to evaluate land within a district by different benefits it receives and assign multiple valuations accordingly. The board can then impose separate assessments based on these different valuations. If separate valuations for separate benefits are chosen, all related rules will apply to these assessments. The assessment book must contain all assessments, but the assessor can choose to create separate assessment statements if desired.

If the board elects to have land within the district valued pursuant to Sections 36577 and 36578, the board may also provide for more than one schedule of valuations based upon different benefits bestowed on the land and the assignment of more than one valuation to the lands in the district and the levy of a separate assessment for the different benefits bestowed on the land. If the board elects to provide for separate valuations for separate benefits pursuant to this section, this chapter shall apply to the separate assessments. The assessment book shall include all assessments, but the assessor may, at his or her option, prepare separate assessment statements.