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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Annexation
Q. Will my property taxes go up?
A. No! You will pay the same amount of property tax that you have
been paying to the County. You may actually receive more services for
your tax dollars: examples of enhanced services include local police
and fire protection services, street lighting (where currently available),
and street maintenance services. In addition, some County Service
Area fees may be eliminated with annexation.
Q. Are there other taxes I'll have to pay?
A. There is at least one County tax you won't have to pay, and
there is one City tax you will have to pay. As a City resident,
you will no longer have to pay a tax for animal control services.
All City residents do pay a Utility User's Tax that applies to
telephone, water and cable TV bills. The tax rate is 5%. The tax
also applies to PG&E bills on any amounts that exceed the baseline
tax exemption. The City's PG&E baseline tax exemption is $75 for
gas service and $75 for electric service. A sample calculation of
a total monthly Utility User's Tax cost is as follows: for $50 phone
bill ($2.50 tax); $40 water bill ($2.00 tax); $30 cable TV bill
($1.50 tax); PG&E bill=$160 ($60 gas=$0 tax; $100 electric=$1.25 tax)
-- total monthly Utility User's Tax on these sample bills is $7.50.
Q. Will I lose any of my property rights?
A. Restrictions that seem to concern property owners most are
restrictions on open burning, and keeping of animals. Like Butte
County, the City of Oroville allows open burning subject only to
obtaining an annual permit (annual fee is $5). And like Butte County,
the City of Oroville allows animals to be kept in all zoning districts,
with acreage limitations applicable to large animals such as horses.
Other City property restrictions are similar to those of Butte County,
although the City of Oroville enforces nuisance violations more
vigorously.
Q. Will I have to utilize City trash collection services?
A. Yes. Curbside garbage collection service is mandatory in
the City of Oroville.
Q. Will I have to connect to the City sewer system?
A. The City does not require properties to connect to the sewer
system just because they have been annexed. If service is available
in your area, you may have the opportunity to connect to the City
sewer system in the event that you experience septic failure. Hook-up
fees, construction assessments, and other costs are determined at
the time of connection.
Q. Will I have to construct curbs, gutters and sidewalks?
A. The time of annexation is not the time the City requires property
owners to construct sidewalks, curbs, and gutters on their property.
For all City residents, installation of these street frontage improvements
is required, at the homeowner's expense, when home improvements are
undertaken that require a City building permit valued at $25,000 or
more. Actual construction may be deferred in certain circumstances.
Q. Will I have to pay anything to be annexed?
A. It depends. The City will pay all application fees for annexation,
if the City initiates or sponsors the annexation. Oroville City Council
is currently offering to initiate and sponsor annexation of "island areas"
in order to 1) eliminate confusion about boundaries and 2) promote
more efficient services. Owners of property in other areas may initiate
an annexation and pay the application fees. 5/20/03
Q. What's in it for me?
A. Plenty! There are many City services available to you once
your property is annexed:
•
Participation in local government decisions is one of the best
reasons
for annexation. As a resident of the City, you can have
greater control
over and voice in the decisions made about your
community. And, you
can run for City offices and commissions.
•
Police protection is enhanced. Oroville has a full service Police
Department with officers in the community 24 hours each day. The
Police
Department provides neighborhood police services, real people
answering the dispatch phones, and responses to emergencies of
approximately four minutes. The Police Department is also involved
with
nuisance abatement, which consists of keeping the streets and
alleys free
of abandoned vehicles. And the City Police Department
responds to all
traffic accidents in a timely manner and tries to
determine accident
causes.
•
Fire protection is enhanced. Oroville has made a commitment in its
General Plan to maintain a first-response fire unit within five
minutes
travel time, for 90% of fire and medical emergency incidents.
Additionally, Fire Department units are located and staffed to provide
an
effective response force of four fire apparatus units with a
minimum of
nine personnel to all areas of the City within a maximum
of ten minutes
travel time, for 90% of all structure fires. Currently
this response
capability is a result of the interagency South County
Fire and Rescue
Management Agreement. And, due to the City's very
good fire
suppression rating of Class 3, City residents may enjoy
reduced fire
insurance costs. The City Fire Department also provides
other services
for special operations such as water rescue, confined
space, hazardous
materials, technical rescue, code enforcement, and
public education.
These services are accomplished through numerous
interagency
agreements.
•
Public Works services offer a major advantage to City residents in
the
area of street maintenance and repair.
•
Animal Control Services are improved, and you will no longer be
charged
the annual tax you pay for these services as a County resident.
•
Low Interest Funds for Housing Rehabilitation and First Time
Homebuyers
is available to qualifying households through the City of
Oroville's
housing programs.
Q. That's it?
A. That's it! Enjoy your increased services and your better access
to Self Government and Home Rule by becoming a resident of the City of
Oroville.
Q. What's meant by Self Government and Home Rule?
A. As a resident of the City, you will have the right to vote in
local elections on issues that affect you and your neighbors. As a
voter, you can affect the composition of the City Council, as that
governing body is comprised of seven individuals who are elected solely
by City residents. Residents in the unincorporated areas of Oroville
have one representative on a five member Board of Supervisors serving
the entire County.
Q. Who should I contact if I have more questions?
A. Please feel free to call or visit us at the City of Oroville's
Planning Department. City offices are located at 1735 Montgomery
Street, and our phone is 530-538-2430. We are open during regular
business hours.
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