Article 4. Formation And Assessment of California Water Code >> Division 13. >> Part 6.5. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 4.

Regardless of any findings made by the board, if more than one-third in number of the holders of title to land within the proposed distribution district object at the hearing to its formation or to the levy of the proposed assessment, the board shall deny the petition and no further proceeding shall be had on it.

If at the hearing the board finds that it would not be for the best interests of the district to form the distribution district, the board shall order the proceedings dismissed without prejudice to their renewal.

If the board finds that it would be for the best interests of the district and the proposed distribution district to form the distribution district, it shall make and enter in its minutes a final order:
  (a) Approving the petition.
  (b) Forming the distribution district.
  (c) Providing that the assessment shall be levied each year in the same manner as district assessments to meet the obligations of the contract with the United States under federal reclamation laws or the obligations of the contract with the district.
  (d) Apportioning the assessment to the land in the distribution district according to benefits.
  (e) Describing the land in the distribution district.

Assessments levied for the purpose of meeting obligations accruing under a contract with the United States pursuant to the reclamation laws or under a contract with the district, shall be payable in the same manner and at the same time as district assessments, and such distribution district assessments shall be made in the number and amount sufficient to meet the obligations accruing under such contract.

The secretary shall cause a certified copy of the order creating the distribution district to be recorded in the office of the county recorder in each county in which any land of the distribution district is situated.

The assessment, and each installment of it, shall be and remain a lien on the land in the distribution district in the same manner as, and be a part of, the annual assessment of the district.

All lands of the distribution district shall remain jointly liable for all obligations accruing to the United States or accruing to the district under any contract between the distribution district and the United States or any contract between the distribution district and the district.

Upon a change or resubdivision upon the assessment book of the district of any parcel of land in a distribution district, the board upon its own initiative or upon petition of the owner of the parcel so changed or resubdivided, may reapportion the distribution district assessment upon the parcel, and the order of reapportionment shall be recorded in the same manner as the order levying the original assessment.

If the actual amount to be paid by the distribution district to the United States or to the district under the contract to be executed is substantially less than the estimated amount, the assessment may be reduced proportionately on each parcel by recomputing it, based on the actual amount to be repaid as set forth in said contract. The reapportionment or a statement that the assessment on each parcel has been reduced by a designated percentage shall be recorded in the same manner as the order levying the original assessment.

Installments of assessments levied on district owned land becoming due while the land is still owned by the district shall be paid by the district. Conveyance of such lands into private ownership shall not release the lien thereon of the assessment and the unpaid installments of it.