§ 4140 Harbor Maintenance Tax Levy

This law lets a county charge a tax to pay for harbor upkeep, setting the tax rate so it covers any shortfall between estimated costs and expected revenues, but the rate can’t be higher than $0.15 per $100 of property value unless voters approve a higher rate.

Key Takeaways

•The tax is only for covering the gap between harbor costs and expected income.
•The rate is calculated based on the total value of taxable property.
•The rate can’t be more than $0.15 per $100 of property value unless voters say yes.

Example

The county estimates it will need $2 million to fix the harbor, but expects only $1.2 million from fees and leases, leaving an $800,000 shortfall.

The county must set a tax rate that will bring in $800,000. If the total assessed value of all taxable property in the county is $100 million, the rate would be $0.80 per $100 of value, which is above the $0.15 limit, so the county would have to ask voters to approve the higher rate.

How to Calculate

Tax Rate (cents per $100) = (Excess Cost ÷ Assessed Valuation) × 100

Find the excess cost by subtracting estimated revenues from estimated maintenance cost.
Divide that excess amount by the total assessed valuation of all taxable property in the county.
Multiply the result by 100 to get the rate in cents per $100 of property value.
Check if the rate is $0.15 or less. If it’s higher, a voter‑approved proposal is required.

County needs $2,000,000 for harbor work, expects $1,200,000 in fees, and total assessed property value is $100,000,000.

Result: Tax Rate = ($800,000 ÷ $100,000,000) × 100 = 0.008 × 100 = 0.8 cents per $100 (or $0.80 per $100). This exceeds the $0.15 limit, so voter approval is needed.

In any year a tax may be levied for the maintenance of the harbor or harbors in the county at a rate calculated to raise a sum of money equal to the amount of the excess, if any, of the amount of the estimated cost of such maintenance over the estimated amount of revenues (derived from such franchises, permits, leases, and charges) that are or will become available to defray such cost. The rate of such tax shall not in any year exceed fifteen cents ($0.15) per one hundred dollars ($100) of the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the county, unless a proposal for a specified higher rate for a particular year is submitted to the qualified electors of the county at a general or special election and is approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon. (Added by Stats. 1945, Ch. 1500.)

Key Takeaways

•The tax is only for covering the gap between harbor costs and expected income.
•The rate is calculated based on the total value of taxable property.
•The rate can’t be more than $0.15 per $100 of property value unless voters say yes.

Example

The county estimates it will need $2 million to fix the harbor, but expects only $1.2 million from fees and leases, leaving an $800,000 shortfall.

How to Calculate

Tax Rate (cents per $100) = (Excess Cost ÷ Assessed Valuation) × 100

Find the excess cost by subtracting estimated revenues from estimated maintenance cost.
Divide that excess amount by the total assessed valuation of all taxable property in the county.
Multiply the result by 100 to get the rate in cents per $100 of property value.
Check if the rate is $0.15 or less. If it’s higher, a voter‑approved proposal is required.

County needs $2,000,000 for harbor work, expects $1,200,000 in fees, and total assessed property value is $100,000,000.

Result: Tax Rate = ($800,000 ÷ $100,000,000) × 100 = 0.008 × 100 = 0.8 cents per $100 (or $0.80 per $100). This exceeds the $0.15 limit, so voter approval is needed.

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

References

§ 4140 Harbor Maintenance Tax Levy

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

References

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References