After construction of a project is completed, a final or equity hearing is held to consider the assessment roll and protests from individual assessments. After the equity hearing, adjustments to the assessment roll ordered by the Council, if any, are made. If the Council determines that assessments should be increased, the affected property owners are re-notified and given an opportunity to protest the increased assessments.
Council approves the final assessment roll by ordinance.
Property owners who filed protests by the time of the hearing may appeal the Council's decision in Superior Court within ten days following approval of the final assessment roll. After the assessment roll is approved, it is sent to the Finance Director for billing. Property owners may pay their assessments within 30 days of the initial billing to avoid interest charges, or the assessments may be paid in annual installments, usually over ten years. If payment on an assessment is not received within 30 days after the initial billing, the Finance Director will mail a new notice one year later. Interest on the assessment will be at the rate at which the City of Seattle sells the L.I.D. bonds, usually less than current market rates.