Article 4. Hearings Before Adjustment Board of California Water Code >> Division 14. >> Part 9. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 4.

In the event objections are filed with respect to a particular assessment roll, as provided in Sections 46206 and 46207, the department shall appoint two disinterested persons, who together with the president of the board constitute a board in the nature of a board of equalization which shall be known and designated as the "adjustment board" and whose functions shall be to consider and act upon objections presented as provided in this article to the assessment made by the district engineer. Each of the two appointed members of the board shall be paid as compensation for the services rendered by them the sum, or sums, as the department fixes. The president of the board shall be paid as compensation for his or her services rendered the sum, or sums, as the board may fix which shall not exceed the compensation fixed by the department. The compensation and expenses are a part of the cost of the project of the district for which the duties are performed.

The adjustment board shall at once organize by the election from its members of a president and a secretary and shall appoint times and places not less than 30 days after the assessment rolls have been filed in the records of the board of directors when and where it will meet within each affected county for the purpose of hearing objections to the assessments.

Notice of the hearing shall be published at least once a week for two successive weeks in each affected county.

The adjustment board may postpone the hearings on objections to assessments from time to time.

At the hearings, the adjustment board shall hear such evidence as may be offered touching the correctness of the assessment, and may modify, amend, or approve the assessment in any particular and may reapportion the whole or any part of it.

No assessment shall be increased if the holder of title to land affected is known except after personal notice or notice by registered mail given to the holder of title by depositing the notice at least two weeks before the hearing in the postoffice at the place in which the office of the district is located, in a sealed postpaid envelope addressed to each of the holders of title at his last known place of residence or business. If the last known place of residence or business of the holder of title is unknown, the notice may be sent to the county seat of the county in which any portion of his land is situated. If the holder of title is unknown, the notice may be given by publication at least once a week for two successive weeks in the county in which his assessed land is located. No assessment shall be increased except upon a hearing of objections made.