(a) In the event of an emergency which constitutes a danger to the public health, safety or welfare, or of a general disaster, which requires a local agency to incur additional costs which cannot be met under the maximum property tax rates provided by this chapter (commencing with Section 2201), a local agency may levy, or have levied on its behalf, an additional rate which will produce 1 percent of the amount produced by its maximum property tax rate. Such a rate shall be authorized by a two-thirds vote of the governing body and shall be levied for one year only.
In the event that the property tax rate has been set when an additional rate is authorized pursuant to this subdivision, such additional rate may be levied in the next following fiscal year.
(b) If the additional rate authorized by subdivision (a) is not sufficient to meet the costs incurred as a result of the emergency or general disaster, a local agency may, by resolution, request the Controller to authorize an additional amount of ad valorem property taxation in excess of that authorized pursuant to subdivision (a).
The local agency shall, upon request of the Controller, provide the Controller with such facts and evidence as will enable him to authorize an additional amount pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision.
Upon receipt of the resolution requesting the authorization of an additional amount, the Controller shall hold a public hearing within the jurisdiction of the local agency or as near thereto as is practicable. At the conclusion of the hearing he shall authorize an additional amount if he makes the following findings: (1) An emergency or general disaster does exist the costs of which cannot be met under the agency’s maximum property tax rate and under the additional tax rate provided in subdivision (a). (2) Such costs are the responsibility of the local agency and cannot be met from revenue sources other than the property tax. (3) Such costs are not within the immediate control of the local agency but are due rather to general economic, environmental, or social conditions, or any of them, or acts of God. Environmental conditions shall include orders of the State Water Resources Control Board or regional water quality control boards. (4) The emergency or general disaster endangers public health, safety or welfare.
The additional amount authorized pursuant to this subdivision may be raised during a single fiscal year or, at the discretion of the local agency, a portion of such amount may be raised in each of several fiscal years.
In any fiscal year a local agency may levy, or have levied on its behalf, a rate in addition to the maximum property tax rate established pursuant to this chapter which will be sufficient to produce the amount authorized pursuant to this subdivision, or the portion thereof which the local agency has determined will be raised in such fiscal year.
(Amended by Stats. 1974, Ch. 457.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018