Bembury Area Special Assessment Area
The "Bembury Assessment Area" was established by Resolution Nos. 14-13449 and 14-13485, to extend sewer lines to 48 properties within the City’s Utility Service Area. F.S. Section 197.3632 allows assessments to be collected annually in the same manner as provided for ad valorem taxes. These assessments will begin November 2015 and continue for 20 years. The original assessment (if prepaid) was expected to be $24,376 but due to the revised construction cost approved at the November 19th Council meeting, it is expected to be approximately $2,932 less or $21,444.
Property owners had the option to pay the assessment 2015, or pay the amount (with interest and administrative fees) over a 20- year period on the tax bill, starting in November 2015. Bills were issued to 53 parcel owners in March 2015 for property owners to consider prepaying this special assessment, and there were 22 prepayments. The remaining 31 customers will pay on their annual tax bill.
This method of collection is consistent with the City’s other recent assessments, and is the preferred option for collecting assessments. The first prepayment notice will likely be issued in January 2015, to enable property owners to prepay prior to the issuance of debt by the City and prior to the assessment being placed on the tax bill. This public hearing regarding these assessments has been advertised for four consecutive weeks, starting November 10th.
The Bembury Assessment Area is located within the City's Utility Service Area and the City's authority to create such an area and impose assessments to fund wastewater utility infrastructure improvements was validated by the Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit on August 27, 2014.
Project is complete and assessments are being paid
- Initial Assessment Resolution 14-13449
- Final Assessment Resolution 14-13485
