Chapter 3.30
CITY OF BIGGS STANDBY COSTS OF PROVIDING EMERGENCY ROOM SERVICES IN A CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL (BIGGS-GRIDLEY HOSPITAL) PARCEL TAX

Sections:

3.30.010    Cited.

3.30.020    Necessity, authority, and purpose.

3.30.030    Tax levied.

3.30.040    Purposes and uses of tax.

3.30.050    Exemptions.

3.30.060    Computation and collection of tax.

3.30.070    Accountability.

3.30.080    Examination of books and records and annual audit.

3.30.090    Property tax.

3.30.100    Collection of tax – Interest and penalties.

3.30.110    Collection of unpaid taxes.

3.30.120    Refund of tax, penalty, or interest paid more than once or erroneously or illegally collected.

3.30.130    Savings clause.

3.30.140    Regulations.

3.30.150    Increased appropriations limit.

3.30.160    Operative date and termination date.

3.30.010 Cited.

This chapter may be cited as the “City of Biggs Standby Costs of Providing Emergency Room Services in a Critical Access Hospital (Biggs-Gridley Hospital) Parcel Tax.” [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.020 Necessity, authority, and purpose.

The city council (council) of the city of Biggs (city) hereby determines as follows:

(1) That the cost to maintain satisfactory levels of health care at the local health care facilities is greater than those facilities receive.

(2) Absent supplemental funding by the citizens of Biggs, the local health care facilities will be forced to close.

(3) Closure of the local health care facilities would constitute a detriment of and to the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the city.

(4) That the levy of a city-wide special tax as hereinafter provided is necessary to provide funding to maintain the local health care facilities and services. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.030 Tax levied.

The tax not exceeding the maximum amount set forth in this section is hereby levied, commencing in the fiscal year 2006-2007, on all taxable properties within the boundaries of the city at the maximum flat rate of $70.00 per single-family equivalent residential unit (ERU). For the purposes of defining an equivalent residential unit, the following categories are established:

(1) Single-family residential (1);

(2) Multifamily residential unit (.75);

(3) Condominium (.75);

(4) Vacant parcels and parcels without residential units shall not be subject to the tax.

For purposes of this chapter, “taxable” properties are those not owned by the city, the state of California, any other public district or agency of the state or the United States of America.

The tax shall not exceed the maximum amount set forth in this section, except that the tax may be increased annually by the annual percent increase for the prior calendar year, if any, by the percentage equal to the percentage change in the Construction Engineering Index for the geographic area most applicable for the preceding 12-month period calculated from April 1st to March 31st. If this index should cease publication, the city administrator shall use any appropriate official index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or successor, or similar agency as may then exist or may then be most nearly equivalent thereto. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.040 Purposes and uses of tax.

The proceeds of the tax shall be deposited in a special fund, maintained by the city, which proceeds, together with any interest and penalties thereon, collected each fiscal year (collectively, the “tax proceeds”), shall be used for maintenance of local health care. The city may transfer the tax proceeds to another public entity for the same purpose. The city shall direct and oversee the expenditure of the tax proceeds. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.050 Exemptions.

The tax imposed by this chapter shall be subject to the exemptions set forth in this section.

(1) Low-Income Homeowner Exemption. Exempt from this tax are owners of single-family residential units in which they reside whose combined family income, from all sources for the previous calendar year, is at or below the income level qualifying as “very low-income” for a family of such size under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C.A. Sections 1437 et seq.] for such year. The application process will be in the form of self-certification under penalty of perjury. Owners must apply for the exemption provided for in this section annually by petition to the finance director of the city in the manner and at the time set forth by the finance director. Such petitions shall be on forms provided by the finance director and shall provide such information as the finance director may require. If the finance director determines the need to audit an application, the finance director may require additional information, including, but not limited to, federal income tax returns and W-2 forms of owner-occupants eligible for this exemption. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.060 Computation and collection of tax.

The city’s finance director or his/her designee or employee is hereby authorized and directed each fiscal year, commencing with the fiscal year 2006-2007, to determine the tax amount to be levied for the next ensuing fiscal year for each taxable parcel of real property within the city, in the manner and as provided in BMC 3.30.030. The finance director is hereby authorized and directed to provide all necessary information to the auditor/tax collector of the county of Butte to effect proper billing and collection of the tax, so that the installments of the tax shall be included on the secured property tax roll of the county of Butte. Unless otherwise required by the council, no council action shall be required to authorize the annual collection of the tax as herein provided. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.070 Accountability.

Pursuant to Sections 50075.1 and 50075.3 of the California Government Code, the specific purposes of the tax and the requirement that the tax proceeds be applied to such purposes and the establishment of a special fund for the tax proceeds are as set forth in BMC 3.30.030. So long as the tax is collected hereunder, commencing no later than July 1, 2007, or as soon thereafter after said tax may be levied, the finance director is hereby authorized and directed to cause to be prepared and filed with the council a report that shows the amount of tax collected and expended and the status of any projects funded with the tax proceeds. For purposes of this section, the finance director is authorized to retain such consultants, accountants or agents as may be necessary or convenient to accomplish the foregoing. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.080 Examination of books and records and annual audit.

The finance director, or his/her designee or employee or agent, is hereby authorized and directed to examine assessment rolls, property tax records, records of the Butte County recorder and any other records of the county of Butte deemed necessary in order to determine ownership of parcels and computation of the tax. A certified public accounting firm retained by the city will perform an annual audit to assure accountability of the proper disbursement of these tax proceeds in accordance with the objectives stated herein. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.090 Property tax.

This special tax is a property tax and qualified property owners and renters shall be entitled to the benefits of California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 20501 et seq., and the Senior Citizens and Disabled Property Tax Postponement Law (California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 20581 et seq.), as provided by law. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.100 Collection of tax – Interest and penalties.

The tax shall be collected in the same manner as ordinary ad valorem taxes are collected and shall have the same lien priority, and be subject to the same penalties and the same procedure and sale in cases of delinquency, as provided for ad valorem taxes collected by the county of Butte; provided, however, that the council may provide for other appropriate methods of collection of the tax by appropriate resolution(s) of the council. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.110 Collection of unpaid taxes.

The amount of the tax, any penalty, and any interest imposed under the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed a debt to the city. In addition to the real property lien status imposed by this chapter and by law, delinquent taxes and penalties shall also be considered the personal debt of the person(s) owning the subject property. Any person owing money under the provisions of this chapter shall be personally liable to all action brought in the name of the city, at its option, for the recovery for such amount. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.120 Refund of tax, penalty, or interest paid more than once or erroneously or illegally collected.

When the amount of the tax, any penalty, or any interest has been paid more than once, or has been erroneously or illegally collected or received by the city under this chapter, it may be refunded, provided a verified claim, in writing, therefor, stating the specific ground(s) upon which claim is founded, is filed with the finance director within one year from the date of payment. If the claim is approved by the finance director, the excess amount collected or paid may be refunded or may be credited against any amounts then due and payable from the person from whom it was collected or by whom paid, and the balance may be refunded to such person, his/her administrators or executors. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.130 Savings clause.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any person, or to any property, as to whom or which it is beyond the power of the city to impose the tax herein provided. If any provision, sentence, clause, section or part of this chapter is found to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such unconstitutionality, illegality or invalidity shall affect only such provision, sentence, clause, section or part of this chapter and shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, sentences, clauses, sections or parts of this chapter. It is hereby declared to be the intention of the city that this chapter would have been adopted had such unconstitutional, illegal or invalid provision, sentence, clause, section or part thereof not been included herein. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.140 Regulations.

The council is hereby authorized to promulgate such regulations as it shall deem necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, including implementing this chapter which is hereby codified in this title or as otherwise directed by the city. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.150 Increased appropriations limit.

Pursuant to California Constitution Article XIIIB, the appropriation limit for the city of Biggs is hereby increased by the aggregate sum authorized to be levied by this tax for fiscal year 2006-2007 and each year thereafter. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]

3.30.160 Operative date and termination date.

(1) Operative Date. “Operative date” means the first day that the tax is imposed and collected. The operative date shall be April 1, 2007.

(2) Termination Date. The authority to levy the tax imposed by this chapter shall extend only through June 30, 2017. [Ord. 372 § 1, 2007]