Section § 55150

Explanation

If you have an interest, such as being a landowner or registered voter in the area where a new district is proposed, and you are against the district being formed, how big it will be, or any planned improvements or inclusion of your property, you can submit a written protest. This protest should explain your objections and must be filed with the clerk of the board of supervisors before the scheduled hearing on the district proposal.

Any person interested, including any freeholder or qualified voter resident within the proposed district or the owner of any real or personal property located in the proposed district, objecting to the formation of the district, to the extent of the district, to the proposed improvement, or to the inclusion of his property in the district, may file a written protest, setting forth his objections, with the clerk of the board of supervisors at or before the time set for the hearing of the petition.

Section § 55151

Explanation

When a protest is received regarding a matter to be heard by the board of supervisors, the clerk must write the date it was received on the protest. Then, at the designated hearing time, the clerk is responsible for giving all the protests to the board.

The clerk of the board of supervisors shall endorse on each protest the date of its receipt and, at the time appointed for the hearing, shall present to the board all protests filed with him.

Section § 55152

Explanation

This section states that the board will review a petition and any protests regarding the formation of a proposed district or improvements. Their decision is final. If there are protests from voters or property owners who would be taxed, the board must call an election to decide the issue if they obtain jurisdiction according to another section.

The board shall hear and pass upon the petition and protests at the time appointed, or at any time to which the hearing may be adjourned, and its decision thereon shall be final and conclusive. If protests are made to the formation of the proposed district or to the proposed improvement by any of the qualified voters of the proposed district as of the date of the petition or by the owners of any property which will be subject to taxation for district purposes if the proposed district is formed, then, notwithstanding the denial of any of such protests by the board of supervisors or the fact that the petition is signed by all of the owners of the real property within the proposed district, the board of supervisors shall, if it acquires jurisdiction pursuant to Section 55160, call an election pursuant to Section 55180.

Section § 55153

Explanation

This law states that if a protest against creating a district or making a proposed improvement is validated, the current process must stop. However, it's possible to submit a new petition for the same or a similar purpose at any time.

If any of the protests against the formation of the district or against the proposed improvement is sustained, no further proceedings shall be had or taken pursuant to the petition, but a new petition for the same or a similar purpose may be filed at any time.

Section § 55154

Explanation

If people protest because they're unhappy with the size of the district or which properties are included, the board of supervisors can adjust the district's boundaries. They'll make the changes they think are best and officially set the new boundaries.

If any of the protests are against the extent of the district or against the inclusion of property in the district, the board of supervisors may make such changes in the boundaries of the proposed district as it finds to be proper and advisable and shall define and establish boundaries as changed.

Section § 55155

Explanation

This law states that county supervisors cannot change the boundaries of a proposed improvement district to exclude areas that will benefit from the improvements. Conversely, areas that will not benefit should not be included in the district.

The board of supervisors shall not modify the boundaries so as to exclude from the proposed district any territory which will be benefited by the improvement, and any territory which will not, in the judgment of the board, be benefited by the improvement shall not be included within the proposed district.

Section § 55156

Explanation

The county board of supervisors can only change the boundaries of an area after they publish a notice in a local newspaper. This notice must describe the changes and let people know when they can speak up if they disagree. The hearing for objections must be at least 10 days after the notice is published.

The board of supervisors shall not modify the boundaries except after notice of such intention is published pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation printed and published in the county and designated by the board for that purpose, describing the proposed modification, and specifying a time for hearing objections to the modification, which time shall be at least 10 days after the publication of the notice.

Section § 55157

Explanation

Anyone who has an interest and disagrees with the proposed changes can submit their written objections to the clerk of the board of supervisors before the hearing to discuss these objections.

Written objections to the proposed modification may be filed with the clerk of the board of supervisors by any interested person at or before the time set for hearing the objections.

Section § 55158

Explanation

The board of supervisors is responsible for listening to any objections regarding proposed changes. After the hearing, whether it happens at the scheduled time or later, their decision is final and can't be challenged.

The board of supervisors shall hear and pass upon the objections to the proposed modification at the time appointed, or at any time to which the hearing may be adjourned, and its decision thereon shall be final and conclusive.

Section § 55159

Explanation

If an objection to a petition is upheld, the current process stops, but you can submit a new petition for the same or similar reason whenever you want.

If any objection is sustained, no further proceedings pursuant to the petition shall be taken, but a new petition for the same or a similar purpose may be filed at any time.

Section § 55160

Explanation

This law explains when a board of supervisors can continue with the formation of a district. They can move forward if no one objects to forming the district by the hearing date, if filed protests are rejected after a hearing, if changes to district boundaries are suggested and no one objects to those changes by the hearing date, or if any objections to these boundary changes are rejected after a hearing.

The board of supervisors shall be deemed to have acquired jurisdiction to proceed further with respect to the formation of a district under any of the following circumstances:
(a)CA Water Code § 55160(a) If no protests to the formation of the district are filed at or before the time set for hearing on the formation petition.
(b)CA Water Code § 55160(b) If protests are filed and, after hearing, are denied.
(c)CA Water Code § 55160(c) If modification of the boundaries of the district is proposed and no objections thereto are filed at or before the time set for hearing objections.
(d)CA Water Code § 55160(d) If objections to the modification are filed, and after hearing, are denied.

Section § 55161

Explanation

This law states that if all property owners in a proposed district have signed a petition to form the district, and no valid protests are made by the voters or property owners against its formation, the board of supervisors can go ahead and officially create the district. They may also authorize the issuance of bonds as described in the petition.

If the board of supervisors determines that the formation petition was signed by all of the owners of the real property in the proposed district and if protests are not made to the formation of the proposed district by any of the qualified voters of the proposed district as of the date of the petition or by the owners of any property which will be subject to taxation for district purposes if the proposed district is formed, and if there are no other good and sufficient protests to the formation of the district or if there is no other cause for denying the petition, then the board of supervisors may declare the district formed and direct the issuance of bonds as provided for in the petition.

Section § 55162

Explanation

This law says that if, before the end of a hearing about forming a new district, over half of the property owners by value or acreage in the proposed district object, then the process to create the district must stop.

Notwithstanding anything in this division to the contrary, if the board of supervisors finds that protests have been made, prior to the close of the hearing for the formation of the district, by the owners of real property within the proposed district the assessed value of which as shown by the last equalized assessment roll constitute more than one-half of the district’s assessed value of the real property within the proposed district or by the owners of more than one-half of the total acreage within the proposed district, the proceedings shall terminate.