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Northdale considers increase in homeowner tax
By LOGAN D. MABE, Times Staff Writer NORTHDALE -- It has been five years since Northdale leaders sought an increase in the assessment homeowners pay to keep the neighborhood looking spiffy. The proposal to raise the maximum annual tax from $100 to $200 per home went down in flames at the polls with 85 percent of residents voting a resounding "no." Now, Northdale Special Tax District members are considering the idea again. They plan to hold a special meeting April 30 to discuss the pros and cons of seeking the tax increase. Timing is important because if residents are to vote on the issue in the September primaries, the measure needs to be presented to county election officials by May 1 to appear on the ballot. If residents were to approve any increase, the new money wouldn't appear in the district's budget until October 2003. Tax district supervisor Dennis Cooper said if the measure isn't on the ballot this year, it will be another two years before residents can address it again at the next election time. "We are at a crossroads," said board vice president Manny Garcia. "We as a board need to make a decision." The current $100 assessment has been in place for more than 10 years, and some board members think it's high time to raise it. Money is needed to update the front entrance, resod the common areas, replace aging shrubs and trees and purchase new lights and signs, supporters say. Others are vehemently opposed to any increase. The tax district operates on about $330,000 a year. Board treasurer Bill Castens proposed the April 30 fact-finding meeting as a way to help him decide which way to go and to define the community needs. "You're not going to go out and sell the public on a tax increase," Castens said. "We need to lay out some concrete reasons why that is necessary." Board member Winfield Webster said he thinks there's already too much waste in the district's budget and a tax increase is not necessary. Webster is especially critical of the community's landscape contractor, Vivicon, which he said overcharges the district for special work. He identified three projects -- lake bank maintenance, irrigation work and vine trimming -- that cost the district $32,000 more than the contract calls for. "You're talking about raising the (tax rate) cap with the waste I've seen on this board," Webster said. "I will campaign hard against raising the cap." Vivicon owner Ken Roth said his company does only the work the board requests. "We just submit proposals," Roth said. "We don't do anything without them authorizing it. So it's not like we're sneaking stuff in." When tax district members sought a $100 increase in 1997, the issue caused a major rift among board members. Homeowner George Helmstetter led the charge against the increase saying board members "spend money like drunken sailors because it's not their money." Helmstetter later won election to the board on the strength of his anti-tax campaigning. Castens said if it can be proven that an increase is needed, the public will be more likely to accept it. "If enough of us agree to put it on the ballot, then we'll be able to defend it," Castens said. -- Logan D. Mabe can be reached at 269-5304 or at mabe@sptimes.com
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From the Times |
