FormationHearing
Section § 55150
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.
Section § 55151
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.
Section § 55152
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.
Section § 55153
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.
Section § 55154
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.
Section § 55155
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.
Section § 55156
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.
Section § 55157
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.
Section § 55158
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.
Section § 55159
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.
Section § 55160
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.
Section § 55161
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.
Section § 55162
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.