Public agencies face pressures from budget constraints that threaten to stop critical projects before they start—coupled with complicated regulation and reporting requirements. Harris & Associates helps clarify funding solutions and put them within reach.
Our special district finance professionals help you find additional funding, improve administrative efficiencies, and increase revenues to pay for future projects and community improvements. We specialize in district formation and administration of benefit assessment and special tax districts, AB1600 impact fee programs, public facilities financing plans, rates, and fees studies.
Uncommon Multidisciplinary Expertise
Our civil engineering background and our deep technical knowledge of State codes and governmental processes set us apart from other firms, and we assist agencies of all sizes with a variety of districts including:
- Community Facilities Districts (Bonded and Maintenance)
- Assessments Districts
- Benefits Assessment Districts
- Property and Business Improvement Districts
- Lighting and Landscape Maintenance Districts
- Sanitation Districts
Protecting Your Community’s Future
Successful formation of many special districts results from a nuanced partnership between the city and the developer. We can help your city incentivize developers to build—and industries to establish themselves—in your community while protecting the interests of future property owners, meeting community sustainability goals, and accounting for the impacts of climate change.
Building Consensus Inside and Out
All stakeholders need to know how your special district will improve the state and efficiency of their community going forward. Transparent, effective communication is our priority. Harris can aptly align the relevance of funding with residents’ and businesses’ concerns, including sustainability, resilience, and climate change. By spelling out benefits and costs early and often to all stakeholders, you can help gain their consensus for any changes—a critical factor when rate increases are on the table.
Related People
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District Formation
District Formation
A recognized authority on the statutory procedures and requirements for district formation, Harris works with each client to determine the most cost-effective solutions for special financing districts, whether to form, reform, or closeout. We provide customized services to meet the specific needs of each client in their formation process, which include:
- Feasibility studies
- Formation of District boundaries
- GIS parcel mapping and documentation
- Presentations at public hearings
- Public education and outreach
- Assistance in election proceedings and balloting
- Proposition 218 compliance
- Preparing Engineer’s Reports/special tax methodology
- Creation and filing of formation documents
- Feasibility studies
- Formation of District boundaries
- GIS parcel mapping and documentation
- Presentations at public hearings
- Public education and outreach
- Assistance in election proceedings and balloting
- Proposition 218 compliance
- Preparing Engineer’s Reports/special tax methodology
- Creation and filing of formation documents
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District Administration
District Administration
Harris’ professionals handle the specific, county requirements for enrollment of taxes and charges. Our team provides custom solutions for agency access to parcel data and charges so our clients can review charges on a per-parcel basis. Our services cover all of the following related to ongoing district administration:
- Annual levies
- Arbitrage compliance
- Annual Engineer’s Reports
- Disclosure reporting
- Revenue analysis
- Delinquency management
- Property owner inquiries
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Proposition 218 Compliance
Proposition 218 Compliance
Understanding the requirements of Proposition 218 is critical to the success of any financing strategy. Recent court cases have made it more important than ever to fully understand the difference between special taxes, property related fees, and assessments, and to differentiate between general and special benefit. Harris has helped agencies develop compliance strategies, bring old districts into compliance with recent court rulings, and chart a path to success in the adoption of new taxes, assessments, and property-related fees. Our staff of renowned experts are up to date on the changes that have occurred, with an eye on changes to come. Our Prop 218 services include:
- Property owner notices and ballots
- Ballot tabulation
- Public outreach and education
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Reimbursement Review
Reimbursement Review
Since 1998, Harris has completed over $1 billion in reimbursement review work. Working closely with developers and their engineers, we develop relationships that promote thorough and timely turnaround of reimbursement requests while protecting the interests of public agencies. We have developed policies and procedures for tracking and processing reimbursement requests and adhere to all guidelines and policies. This allows us to quickly handle requests and provide a smooth process for the municipality. Our reimbursement review services include:
- Review of contracts, change orders, invoices, checks, lien releases, and improvement plans
- Verification that legal guidelines are met to protect the investors as well as the agency
- Construction reimbursement
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Public Outreach
Public Outreach
Harris creates unique tactics for educating the public on rate increases to highlight the community benefits they can expect and mitigate rate shock. It’s our mission to ultimately make ratepayers and stakeholders advocates instead of adversaries. Harris will work with you to manage media relations and facilitate stakeholder advisory committees and plan agendas.
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Fire Suppression Assessments
Fire Suppression Assessments
Harris collaborates with local agencies and fire districts to assess the feasibility of adopting a fire suppression assessment in accordance with California Government Code 50078. This code allows local agencies to implement a fire suppression assessment, consistent with Proposition 218 (Article XIII D of the California State Constitution), to generate additional revenue for fire suppression activities. By evaluating financing options and implementing effective funding strategies, our experienced team helps local agencies navigate Proposition 218 requirements and minimize the risk of legal challenges.
Some of our clients include:
- Peardale - Chicago Park Fire Protection District
- City of Millbrae
- Oakdale Fire Protection District
- Rough and Ready Fire Protection District
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Utility Undergrounding Assessment Districts
Utility Undergrounding Assessment Districts
Harris collaborates with local agencies and property owners to form utility undergrounding assessment districts in accordance with the Municipal Improvement Act of 1913 or the Community Facilities Act of 1982. These Acts allow local agencies to move forward with shifting existing overhead utilities underground consistent with Proposition 218 (Article XIII D of the California State Constitution). Through coordination with local agencies, utility companies and property owners, our experienced team serves as the Assessment Engineer, developing methodology for allocating the costs of the undergrounding projects, engaging with stakeholders, navigating Proposition 218 requirements, and minimizing the risk of legal challenges.
Sample Clients
- City of Laguna Beach – Crestview Drive and Woods Cove
- City of Newport Beach – AD-111, AD-116 and AD-120-2
- Town of Tiburon – Viginia Drive
- City of Oakland – Piedmont Pines
District Formation
A recognized authority on the statutory procedures and requirements for district formation, Harris works with each client to determine the most cost-effective solutions for special financing districts, whether to form, reform, or closeout. We provide customized services to meet the specific needs of each client in their formation process, which include:
