During Elk Grove budget hearing Councilmember Sergio Robles shows a limited grasp of property taxes, assessments
Does he know what a Mello Roos assessment is?
As the Elk Grove City Council approved the $349 million annual budget for the fiscal year 2024, which starts on July 1, District 4 Councilmember Sergio Robles displayed a limited grasp of property taxes and assessments during the June 15 city council meeting.
Following budget director Shay Narayan’s presentation, Robles asked about property taxes. Robles noted that he has a lot of inquiries from District 4 residents about why their property taxes are high.
“When I was going in the community, a lot of it was, ‘we are paying a lot of money in property taxes,”‘ Robles said. “Can you clarify a little how it is collected?”
Narayan explained to Robles the basic principles of property taxes. He also explained community facility district assessments, commonly known as Mello Roos.
As the District 4 representative, Robles should have known almost every residential dwelling in that area of Elk Grove is part of any number of CFDs. The most notorious one is the City of Elk Grove Infrastructure and Services Community Facilities District (CFD) Laguna Ridge 2005-1, which paid for the construction of the District 56 facilities.
Homeowners in that CFD picked up the entire tab for District 56, which benefits all residents. It is no wonder constituents ask Robles why their property taxes are so high.
When Robles talked to District 4 property owners, their comments on high property taxes undoubtedly referenced the Mello Roos fees they pay. Property owners in Elk Grove who own a dwelling built before 2000, and even some built before 2007, are not subjected to the high Mello Roos fees paid by District 4 property owners.
For Robles not to grasp why many of his constituents pay much higher taxes and assessments than people in others is disappointing, but given his recent behaviors, not surprising.
See Narayan patiently explain the basics of municipal property taxes and assessment to Robles in the video below.
