Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
New Police, Fire Tax? Council Wants One More Week to Decide How to Pay for Fresno Growth
By admin
Published 2 years ago on
September 28, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Fresno City Council on Thursday delayed a decision to apply a tax to some new home buyers for police and fire services.

“We’re acquiescing to the county and saying ‘we give up, you win. You don’t have to negotiate with us because we’re going to tax people more rather than getting the appropriate share of property tax.’ “ — Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld

Councilmembers heard an appeal from Granville Homes president Darius Assemi to remove a tax designation called Community Facilities District 18 on a 71-lot subdivision of rental homes annexed in 2007.

Assemi is the publisher of GV Wire.

Had the CFD 18 designation passed, homeowners in those areas would have paid $164 more annually in property taxes in perpetuity. Apartment and rental builders would pick up the tab to the tune of $112 per unit, something builders said would filter down to higher rents.

For councilmembers, the decision to apply the tax goes beyond that tract of land in southeast Fresno.

Councilmember Garry Bredefeld said the decision to apply the CFD designation would only discourage negotiations with Fresno County on a new tax-sharing agreement.

Watch: The City Council Discussion

“We’re acquiescing to the county and saying ‘we give up, you win. You don’t have to negotiate with us because we’re going to tax people more rather than getting the appropriate share of property tax,’ ” Bredefeld said.

Councilmember Mike Karbassi asked whether that extra assessment would mean extra service.

“This is a general fund service that I think a supermajority of residents in the city don’t pay extra for and now we’re saying… you’re going to pay a lifetime fee or whatever you call for the same level of service,” Karbassi said.

City Manager Georgeanne White said the money would pay for patrols and other services in the areas farther away from the city center.

Assemi asked if people in CFD-18 areas would get faster response times.

“When someone calls 9-1-1, city manager, is there going to be a map that says this is CFD-18, faster service?” Assemi said.

White said it was geography based.

“Farther out, longer response time,” White said.

During the discussion, Karbassi gave direction to the city attorney to initiate the process to kill CFD 18 because it’s a double tax on select new development.

Mike Karbassi portrait

“Is it legally defensible for this council to dissolve the CFD 18? I’m going to request that your office draft that language.” — Councilmember Mike Karbassi, speaking to City Attorney Andrew Janz

Meanwhile, councilmember Miguel Arias said he didn’t want older neighborhoods subsidizing newer ones.

Karbassi said market-rate workforce housing often ends up subsidizing older neighborhoods.

The discussion around whether property taxes in newer parts of town generate enough revenue to pay for emergency services raised more questions than answers, said Fresno City Councilmember Nelson Esparza.

The unanimous decision to wait came with a request for a more in-depth analysis of the cost of police and fire services on the city’s perimeter.

‘One of the Most Important’ Policies to Come from City Council: Chavez

While the decision on whether a special tax is needed in only certain areas is a very technical one, councilmember Luis Chavez said, it is “one of the most important.”

“This conversation that we’re having here today is very technical, very nerdy, I totally appreciate that. But I think it’s one of the most important policies that will come out of this body, because I think we’re going to send a message as to what development will look like in the city of Fresno,” Chavez said.

In December 2022, the council decided to apply the CFD-18 designation to all areas of land annexed into the city of Fresno after 2002.

A study from the city showed that homes in areas annexed from the county after 2002 did not generate enough revenue to pay for police and fire services.

After 2002, the tax-sharing agreement between the city and the county of Fresno changed from the county giving the city 50% of property taxes to 38% of property taxes. White said the terms changed to discourage urban sprawl.

To make up for the shortfall, the CFD-18 designation increases annual property taxes for homes and rental properties.

Karbassi said the amount of time spent discussing the appeal exceeded the amount of time spent when council originally applied the CFD-18 to new areas of the city.

And while it was a difficult decision to make, he said it should be the council that makes that decision instead of the city administration.

“I want to make sure we keep the policy debate on the dais,” Karbassi said.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

DON'T MISS

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

DON'T MISS

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

DON'T MISS

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

DON'T MISS

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

DON'T MISS

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

DON'T MISS

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

DON'T MISS

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

DON'T MISS

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

DON'T MISS

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

UP NEXT

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

UP NEXT

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

UP NEXT

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

UP NEXT

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

UP NEXT

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

UP NEXT

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

UP NEXT

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

UP NEXT

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

UP NEXT

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest 17 in Domestic Violence Crackdown

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

8 hours ago

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

9 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

9 hours ago

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

9 hours ago

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

10 hours ago

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

10 hours ago

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

10 hours ago

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

11 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest 17 in Domestic Violence Crackdown

11 hours ago

What’s Next for Fresno Smoke Shop Ordinance: Lawsuit, Veto, Override?

12 hours ago

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

Virginia Giuffre, a former victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring who said she was “passed around like a platter of fruit” as a te...

5 hours ago

Virginia Roberts Giuffre speaks to reporters in New York on Aug. 27, 2019. Giuffre, a former victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring who said she was “passed around like a platter of fruit” as a teenager to rich and powerful predators, including Prince Andrew of Britain, died on Friday at her farm in Western Australia. She was 41. (Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times)
5 hours ago

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

8 hours ago

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

8 hours ago

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

8 hours ago

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

Selma Mayor Scott Robertson (left) has been charged with misdemeanor electioneering for allegedly campaigning near voters at a polling place during the November 2024 election. (Facebook)
9 hours ago

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

9 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

9 hours ago

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

10 hours ago

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend