Chapter 5. Levying And Collecting The Assessment of California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 12. >> Chapter 5.

The validity of an assessment or supplementary assessment levied under this division shall not be contested in any action or proceeding unless the action or proceeding is commenced within 30 days after the assessment is levied. Any appeal from a final judgment in such an action or proceeding shall be perfected within 30 days after the entry of judgment.

Upon the passage of the resolutions provided for in Section 10312, the clerk of the legislative body shall, if bonds are to be issued, transmit to the superintendent of streets, or if no bonds are to be issued, to the city tax collector the diagram and assessments adopted pursuant to Section 10312. If other than a municipal corporation is conducting the proceeding, the diagram and assessment shall be transmitted to and recorded by the corresponding officer of the entity conducting the proceeding, which officer shall be the county surveyor if a county is conducting the proceeding, and that officer shall perform the duties provided in this division for the tax collector. If neither a municipal corporation nor a county is conducting the proceeding, a certified copy of the diagram and assessment shall be recorded with the county surveyor if all or any part of the improvement district is in unincorporated territory, and with the superintendent of streets or tax collector of the city if all or any part of the improvement district is an incorporated territory.

The tax collector shall record the diagram and assessment received pursuant to Section 10401 in a substantial book to be kept for that purpose in his office. Upon the date of recordation with the tax collector or, if a certified copy is recorded with the county surveyor or the superintendent of streets of the city, or both, as provided in Section 10401, then upon the date of recordation, the assessment becomes due and payable, except that the legislative body may provide in the resolution adopted pursuant to Section 10312 that all or any portion of the assessment becomes due and payable on the date of the bonds which represent the assessments or portion thereof.

Upon the passage of the resolution provided for in subdivision (a) of Section 10312, the city clerk shall record a notice of assessment, as provided for in Section 3114, modified to reflect any annual assessment for administrative cost, whereupon the assessment shall attach as a lien upon the property assessed, as provided in Section 3115, except that the annual assessment for administrative cost shall become a lien at the same time as the property tax becomes a lien each year.

All assessments not paid within 30 days after they become due, except all unpaid assessments for which bonds are to be issued, shall become delinquent and the recording officer shall add to each delinquent assessment 5 percent of the amount thereof. Assessments may be paid in whole or in part during the 30-day period after the same become due and payable.

(a) Notice of recordation of assessment shall be given as provided in this section.
  (b) Upon recording of the assessment, the collection officer shall mail, as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 5070, a statement containing all of the following:
  (1) A designation by street number, or some other description, of the property assessed sufficient to enable the owner to identify it.
  (2) The amount of the assessment.
  (3) The date of the recordation of the assessment.
  (4) The time and place of payment of the assessment and the effect of failure to pay within such time.
  (5) If bonds are to be issued, a statement of that fact designating the act pursuant to which such bonds are to be issued.
  (c) The failure of the collection officer to mail the notice to any property owner or the failure of any property owner to receive the notice shall not affect the validity of any proceedings taken under this division.
  (d) The collection officer also shall give notice by publication pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code, which notice shall state all of the following:
  (1) That the assessment has been recorded as provided in Section 10402, and that all sums assessed therein are due and payable immediately.
  (2) That the payment of such sums is to be made to the collection officer within 30 days after the date of recording the assessment, which date shall be stated in the notice.
  (3) If bonds are not to be issued, that all assessments will become delinquent if not paid before the expiration of that 30 days and the effect of the failure to pay the assessments within the 30-day period.
  (4) If bonds are to be issued, the effect of the failure to pay the assessments within the 30-day period.

The tax collector shall fix a time and place for the sale of various parcels of land upon which the assessments are unpaid, which date shall be not less than 60 days nor more than six months after the date of the recordation of the diagram and assessment.

When the resolution of intention does not provide for the issuance of bonds, the tax collector of the entity conducting the proceedings shall give the notice of recording the assessment and collect and receive the assessments, and proceedings shall be had as provided in this chapter.

Within 30 days after the date of the delinquency, the tax collector shall begin the publication of a notice of sale of the property upon which the assessments have not been paid. The publication shall be made in the city pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code.

The notice of sale published pursuant to Section 10407 need not set out the description of the various parcels of land at length, but shall describe the parcels by their respective number as they appear upon the assessment and diagram. The notice shall refer to the assessment and diagram. Opposite the description or designation of each parcel of land shall be set out the name of the owner as it appears on the last equalized assessment roll for city taxes or as known to the tax collector, the amount assessed against the parcel, the penalty for delinquency, a fee which is required to reimburse the municipality for the estimated reasonable cost of providing notice pursuant to Section 10408.5, and the costs of sale chargeable to the parcel.

(a) Not less than 45 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date of sale, the tax collector shall send notice by registered mail to the last known mailing address, if available, of parties of interest, as defined in Section 6505.4. The content of the notice shall include the date, time, and place of the proposed sale, and the amount required to redeem prior to the time of the sale.
  (b) The tax collector shall make a reasonable effort to obtain the name and last known mailing address of parties of interest.
  (c) The validity of any sale under this chapter is not affected if the tax collector's reasonable effort fails to disclose the name and last known mailing address of parties of interest or if a party of interest does not receive the mailed notice.

At least 15 days prior to the date of the sale, the tax collector shall mail, postage prepaid, notices of sale to the owners of all property upon which the assessments have not been paid, as they appear on the last equalized assessment roll for city taxes or as known to the tax collector. The various parcels shall be designated by their legal description or by street number in addition to their respective numbers as they appear upon the assessment and diagram. Opposite the description and designation of each parcel in the notice shall be set out the amount assessed against the property, the penalty for delinquency, a fee which is required to reimburse the municipality for the estimated reasonable cost of providing notice pursuant to Section 10408.5, and the portion of the costs of the sale chargeable to the parcel.

Upon the completion of the publishing and mailing of the notices of sale, the tax collector shall file with the legislative body an affidavit setting forth the time and manner of the compliance with the requirements for publishing and mailing the notices.

At any time after delinquency and prior to the sale of any parcels of land assessed and delinquent, any person may pay the assessment, and penalties and costs due on the property, including the cost of advertising if the payment is made after the first publication of the notice of sale.

At the time and place fixed in the notice, the tax collector shall proceed with the sale of the property advertised, commencing at the head of the list and continuing in numerical order of lots or parcels of land until all are sold. He may postpone or continue the sale from day to day until the sale is completed.

The tax collector shall sell separately each parcel of land in the published notice on which the assessment remains unpaid, or so much of it as is necessary to realize the amount assessed against the parcel and penalties and costs, and fifty cents ($0.50) for a certificate of sale. If there is no other purchaser for any lot or parcel of land so offered for sale, it shall be struck off to the city as purchaser.

For each sale the tax collector shall issue an original and duplicate certificate of sale, referring to the proceedings, describing the parcel sold, and giving the name of the purchaser and the amount for which the parcel was sold. He shall deliver the original certificate to the purchaser and keep the duplicate on file in his office, in the form of a stub, in the certificate book.

At any time before the expiration of one year from the date of the sale, any property sold pursuant to this chapter may be redeemed by payment to the tax collector of the amount for which it was sold and an additional penalty at the rate of 1 percent of the amount a month until paid.

The tax collector shall pay the redemption money to the person holding the original certificate of sale and shall require that the person to whom the redemption money is paid surrender the certificate and give a receipt for the money so paid. Upon redemption of any parcel of land the tax collector shall enter the fact and date of redemption upon the duplicate certificate of sale for that parcel of land.

If property sold pursuant to this chapter is not redeemed within one year, and if the purchaser or his assignee has complied with the provisions of this chapter, the tax collector shall execute to the person named in the original certificate, or to his assignee on his application, a deed of the property described in the certificate. The deed shall refer in general terms to the proceedings under which it is issued and contain a description of the property, any assignment thereof, and the fact that no person has redeemed the property. The tax collector shall receive from the applicant one dollar ($1) for making the deed, unless the city is the purchaser, in which case no charge shall be made.

At least 30 days before he applies for a deed, the purchaser or his assignee shall serve upon the owner of the property, and upon the occupant of such property if it is occupied, a written notice setting forth:
  (a) A description of the property.
  (b) That the property has been sold for a delinquent assessment (specifying the improvement for which the assessment was made).
  (c) The amount for which the property was sold.
  (d) The amount necessary to redeem at the time of giving notice.
  (e) The time when the purchaser or assignee will apply to the tax collector for a deed. If the owner cannot be found, after due diligence, the notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place upon the property, at least 30 days before the time stated therein as the time at which the application for a deed will be made.

The person applying for a deed shall file with the tax collector an affidavit or affidavits showing that notice of such application has been given as required in this chapter, and if the notice was not served on the owner of the property personally that due diligence was used to find the owner. The affidavit or affidavits shall be filed by the tax collector in his office.

If redemption of the property is made after such affidavits are filed, and more than 11 months from the date of sale, the person making the redemption shall pay, in addition to the other amounts required, three dollars ($3) for the service of notice and the making of the affidavits, which amount shall be paid over to the purchaser or his assignee in the same manner as other sums paid for redemption.

No deed for any property sold for delinquent assessment shall be made until the purchaser or his assignee has complied with all the provisions of Sections 10417 to 10420, inclusive, and has filed the proper affidavits with the tax collector.

The deed of the tax collector conveys the title in fee to the property and entitles the grantee, upon the receipt thereof, to immediate possession of the property described in the deed.

The deed of the tax collector is prima facie evidence of the truth of all the matters which it recites, and of the regularity of all proceedings prior to the execution of the deed.

As fast as collected the tax collector shall pay the funds collected by him pursuant to this division, either upon voluntary payment or as the result of sales, to the treasurer of the city. The city treasurer shall place the funds so received in a special fund designated by the name of the improvement proceeding. Payment shall be made out of the special fund so established only for the purposes provided for in this division.

(a) If the Orange County Board of Supervisors determines, subsequent to the issuance of bonds, that the acquisition or construction of all or any part of the proposed improvement will be delayed beyond the date upon which, at the time the bonds were issued, the acquisition or construction was expected to occur, the balance then on deposit in the improvement fund, or the portion specified by the board, may, at the direction of the board, be applied to call outstanding bonds called for redemption. The call and redemption of bonds pursuant to this section shall not cause the amount of any assessment to be reduced. The board shall cause any annual assessment installments occurring after any redemption under this section to be reduced to the maximum extent permitted by law.
  (b) The board may, from time to time, issue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of the principal amount of bonds called for redemption pursuant to subdivision (a). The net proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds shall be deposited in the improvement fund.

If the first assessment or the sale of bonds to represent assessments levied pursuant to this division fails to raise sufficient money to pay all costs, damages, and expenses of the improvement or acquisition, including any judgments rendered in the action and proceedings mentioned in this division and the costs and expenses thereof, the legislative body may pay the deficit out of the general fund, or may order a supplemental assessment to pay the deficit.

The supplemental assessment shall be made and collected in the same manner, as nearly as may be, as the first assessment. Subsequent supplemental assessments may be made, if necessary, to pay for the improvement. At the hearing the legislative body may confirm, modify, or correct the supplemental assessment. The decision of the legislative body thereon is final.

After completion of the improvement and the payment of all claims from the improvement fund, the legislative body shall determine the amount of the surplus, if any, remaining in the improvement fund by reason of the assessment and any supplemental assessment levied for the improvement. The surplus shall be used, in amounts determined by the legislative body, for one or more of the following purposes:
  (a) For transfer to the general fund of the city, provided that the amount transferred shall not exceed the lesser of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or 5 percent of the total amount expended from the improvement fund.
  (b) As a credit upon the assessment and any supplemental assessment, in the manner provided in Section 10427.1.
  (c) For the maintenance of the improvement.
  (d) To call bonds, thereby reducing outstanding assessments and subsequent assessment installments. In the event that the legislative body determines to use all or some portion of the surplus to call bonds prior to maturity, the treasurer shall do each of the following:
  (1) Cause the special reserve fund, if any, to be reduced as necessary pursuant to Section 8887 to assure that the bonds will not become subject to federal income taxation.
  (2) Cause any assessment previously paid in cash to receive a credit in cash pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 10427.1 for the proportionate share of the surplus as determined pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10427.1.
  (3) Cause the preparation of new auditor's records to reflect the adjusted principal amount of the remaining assessment. All subsequent assessment installments shall be based upon the adjusted principal amount of the assessment as reflected in the revised auditor's record.

(a) If there is no supplemental assessment, the entire amount of the surplus shall be applied as a credit to the assessment or, as an alternative, any portion of the surplus may be used to call outstanding bonds. If any supplemental assessment has been levied, any portion of the surplus shall be applied as a credit to the assessment or supplemental assessment, or both, or, as an alternative, may be used to call outstanding bonds, as the legislative body may determine. Any credit upon the assessment or any supplemental assessment shall be made in the proportion which each individual assessment, or installment of principal thereof, bears to the total of all individual assessments in the assessment or supplemental assessments upon which the surplus is to be credited. Any bonds called pursuant to this section shall be selected in accordance with Section 8768.
  (b) Where an individual assessment, or any installment of the principal thereof, has been paid in cash after January 1, 1991, the credit shall be returned in cash to the person or persons owning the property for which the assessment or installment has been paid upon their furnishing satisfactory evidence of payment.
  (c) Where all or any part of an individual assessment remains unpaid, if the individual assessment is not payable in installments, the credit shall be applied in its entirety upon the individual assessment.
  (d) Where all or any part of an individual assessment remains unpaid and is payable in installments, the amount apportioned to each parcel shall be credited against the next installment or installments unpaid upon it after the two-year period specified in this subdivision. When any of the surplus is to be applied as a credit upon the assessment, payable in installments, no credit may be paid or credited as provided in this section until after a period of two years from the date of receipt of proceeds of the sale of bonds by the legal entity conducting the proceedings.
  (e) There shall be transferred to the general fund of the city (1) any portion of the surplus which has not been paid to or claimed by the persons entitled thereto within four years from the date of recordation of the assessment and any supplemental assessment or, if bonds have been issued, within four years after the due date of the last installment upon the bonds or of the last principal coupon attached thereto, and (2) any interest earned from the investment of any moneys constituting all or any part of the surplus when the surplus attributable to an individual remaining assessment is fifty dollars ($50) or less. If the surplus attributable to an individual remaining assessment is greater than fifty dollars ($50), any interest earned thereon, less administrative cost of investing and crediting, shall be applied as a credit to the assessment.

If, pursuant to Section 10427, the legislative body determines that any surplus remaining in the improvement fund shall be used as a credit upon the assessment or any supplemental assessment, the legislative body may also determine that such surplus shall be applied as a credit to the city or any local, state or national agency or authority which shall have made a contribution towards the costs and expenses of the improvement. A credit on account of any contribution shall be made in the proportion which such contribution bears to the total amount of the assessment or supplemental assessment prior to the deduction of all such contributions. All such credits shall be returned in cash to the city, local, state or national agency or authority making such contribution. The surplus remaining in the improvement fund after making credits on account of contributions shall then be applied as a credit in the manner provided in Section 10427.1.

If any work to be performed under this division is deleted from a specific lot fronting on the improvement, the surplus in the improvement fund resulting from the deletion of such work may be returned to the owner of that lot, in the manner provided in Section 10427.1.

From the date of the recordation pursuant to Sections 3114 and 3115, each special assessment levied under this division is a lien upon the land upon which it is levied. This lien is paramount to all other liens, except prior assessments and taxation. Unless sooner discharged, the lien continues for a period of 10 years from the date of the recordation or, if bonds are issued to represent the assessment, until the expiration of four years after the due date of the last installment on the bonds or of the last principal coupon attached thereto. All persons have constructive notice of this lien from the date of the recordation.

The lien, whether bonds issued to represent the assessment or otherwise, shall be subordinate to all fixed special assessment liens previously imposed upon the same property, but it shall have priority over all fixed special assessment liens which may thereafter be created against the property.

The lien of a reassessment and a refunding assessment shall have the same priority as the original assessment to which it relates. A supplemental assessment is a new assessment.

At any time after the preliminary approval of the report provided for in Section 10300, by resolution adopted by a vote of two-thirds of all its members and without calling for bids, the legislative body may order that the municipality itself execute any or all of the improvement in accordance with the specifications and plans adopted for the work.

The legislative body, on ordering the municipality itself to execute the improvement, may authorize the municipality to employ the labor, and provide the material, appliances, supplies, and illuminating agent necessary to carry out the work.

The cost and expenses of work executed by the municipality itself shall be paid out of the improvement fund, but the amount appropriated and used from the fund for this purpose shall not exceed the amount of the bid upon which the award of the contract was made, or if no bids are received or the work is ordered without asking for bids, the cost and expenses shall not exceed the amount of the estimate provided for in subdivision (c) of Section 10204. If the cost and expenses do exceed the amount of the bid, or of the estimate in case no bids are received or the work is ordered without asking for bids, the excess shall be paid from the general fund in the treasury.