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Street Light District
Overview
The City of Apache Junction utilizes a special district mechanism to fund the installation and energy costs of streetlights placed in residential subdivisions. Arizona Revised Statutes allow the City to fund general public improvements through the formation of these Street Light Districts.
Historically it has taken approximately 8 to 11 months from start to completion of the SLID process. For more information about forming a street light improvement district call Public Works at (480) 982-1055.
The Process
The beginning of a street light district occurs when a majority of property owners make a request to the City. This request must be in the form of a petition signed by a majority of those property owners.
A map delineating the district's limits is prepared for review and approval of the City Engineer. This map shows where lights are to be located within the subdivision. Next, the map is forwarded to the Salt River Project for purposes of creating a cost estimate. This estimate includes construction and estimated monthly and annual energy charges.
City staff then prepares a resolution of intention to order the improvement. The resolution consists of the district map and charges to be assessed. Once the resolution is approved by the City Council a 30-day protest period ensues. Any protest regarding the district must be raised before Council prior to any further action on the district.
Following the protest period, a resolution ordering the work is prepared by City staff and formally approved by the City Council. A certified copy of the resolution is sent to SRP along with a check for the amount of the street light installation.
SRP then schedules the work and performs the installation. When completed, the City accepts the improvement and begins receiving the monthly energy billings for payment.
Cost
State law allows for the assessment of costs associated with the installation and on-going energy costs of streetlights. The assessment is collected by the County in the form of a tax based upon the assessed value of the real and personal property in the district area.
The City pays for the installation of the streetlights and the energy costs for the first year. Costs associated with a street light district are assessed against the property owners and paid back over a period of years.
Once these up-front costs are recovered by the City, property owners are annually assessed for the SRP electricity rates, sales tax and fuel adjustment fee, if applicable.
The average cost per year of SLID differs depending on the number of street lights, actual construction costs, annual energy charges and the district's total valuation.
The City of Apache Junction utilizes a special district mechanism to fund the installation and energy costs of streetlights placed in residential subdivisions. Arizona Revised Statutes allow the City to fund general public improvements through the formation of these Street Light Districts.
Historically it has taken approximately 8 to 11 months from start to completion of the SLID process. For more information about forming a street light improvement district call Public Works at (480) 982-1055.
The Process
The beginning of a street light district occurs when a majority of property owners make a request to the City. This request must be in the form of a petition signed by a majority of those property owners.
A map delineating the district's limits is prepared for review and approval of the City Engineer. This map shows where lights are to be located within the subdivision. Next, the map is forwarded to the Salt River Project for purposes of creating a cost estimate. This estimate includes construction and estimated monthly and annual energy charges.
City staff then prepares a resolution of intention to order the improvement. The resolution consists of the district map and charges to be assessed. Once the resolution is approved by the City Council a 30-day protest period ensues. Any protest regarding the district must be raised before Council prior to any further action on the district.
Following the protest period, a resolution ordering the work is prepared by City staff and formally approved by the City Council. A certified copy of the resolution is sent to SRP along with a check for the amount of the street light installation.
SRP then schedules the work and performs the installation. When completed, the City accepts the improvement and begins receiving the monthly energy billings for payment.
Cost
State law allows for the assessment of costs associated with the installation and on-going energy costs of streetlights. The assessment is collected by the County in the form of a tax based upon the assessed value of the real and personal property in the district area.
The City pays for the installation of the streetlights and the energy costs for the first year. Costs associated with a street light district are assessed against the property owners and paid back over a period of years.
Once these up-front costs are recovered by the City, property owners are annually assessed for the SRP electricity rates, sales tax and fuel adjustment fee, if applicable.
The average cost per year of SLID differs depending on the number of street lights, actual construction costs, annual energy charges and the district's total valuation.