Article 8. Annexation of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 6. >> Chapter 8. >> Article 8.

Any public agency or portion thereof or unincorporated territory within the boundaries of a district (hereinafter referred to collectively as "territory") not included within the boundaries of a special district may be annexed thereto in the manner provided in this article.

The board shall by resolution determine that the annexation of the territory will facilitate the acquisition or operation of a public utility for the special district, describe therein the territory, declare its intention to annex the territory to the special district, set forth the terms and conditions upon which the territory shall be annexed, fix the time and place for hearing on the question of the annexation, and provide for the giving of notice of the hearing.

No public agency or portion thereof shall be annexed to a special district unless the legislative body thereof shall by resolution consent.

The terms and conditions for the annexation of territory to a special district may provide, among other things, for the payment of taxes within the territory to be annexed in addition to the taxes elsewhere in this division provided for, the fixing of rates, rentals, and charges differing from those fixed or existing elsewhere within the special district, the making of a payment or payments, or the transfer of property, real and personal, and other assets to the district by the territory proposed to be annexed.

Notice fixing the time and place for hearing on the question of the annexation of territory to a special district shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the district.

The time for hearing shall be not less than 30 nor more than 60 days from the date of the first publication of the notice.

At or before the hearing any person interested may file with the secretary of the district written objections to the annexation of the territory to the special district or to the inclusion of his property therein. Upon the hearing, the board shall hear and determine all protests and objections.

The hearing may be adjourned from time to time by the board without further notice other than an order entered upon the minutes of its meeting fixing the time and place of adjournment. In the event that no protests are filed or the protests filed are overruled and denied the board shall thereupon by resolution declare the territory, or a portion thereof, annexed to the special district.

From and after the date of filing of the resolution with the secretary of the district the annexation of the territory, or portion thereof, to the special district is complete.

No annexation to a special district shall operate to dissolve or terminate the legal existence of any public agency within or partly within the territory annexed.

From and after the date of annexation any territory annexed to a special district is liable for payment of its proportionate share of any indebtedness then existing and payable by the special district. From and after the date of annexation the board shall levy upon all of the property in the territory annexed such taxes, tolls, or charges as are necessary to comply with the terms and conditions of annexation, in addition to any other district taxes authorized elsewhere in this division to be levied and collected.