Last night, a community meeting on How to Form a Special Road District was hosted by Third District County Supervisor Field Rep Glen Harris at the Joshua Tree Community Center, with speakers Henry Mac and Rudy Guerrero from San Bernardino County Public Works Special District.
Attended by over 40 community members with a large presence from Morongo Valley residents, the two-hour meeting began with a slide presentation from Henry Mac, who defined special road districts, using examples of the six established in Landers, Copper Mountain Mesa, Flamingo Heights, Yucca Valley East/West, and Wonder Valley. These road districts are based on the needs of the residents and what they’re willing to pay on an annual basis, including administrative fees. Services provided may include periodic road grading, snow plowing, road paving, and ongoing general maintenance.
Mac then introduced Rudy Guerrero who went more in depth with the ten steps involved for residents to form the special districts. Starting with one neighborhood “proponent” to gather interested neighbors; the detailed request is then submitted to the Special Districts Division, followed by the Division hosting a meeting for said residents, then a public hearing where the proposal is brought before the Board of Supervisors who request a mailed ballot election for property-related fees. If the election passes, the zone is formed, and charges are added to the annual property tax. Upon receiving their first installment of property tax, proponents are refunded their deposit and election costs.
When an attendee asked for an example of a district’s success, Guerrero cited Wonder Valley who formed their district in 1971. Guerrero said inflation is minimal; in 2012, they only had to raise their rate 3% to a total of $55 a resident per year.
