Property owners throughout the City who have street lights have contributed for many years their pro rata share of the cost of operating the street lighting system through maintenance assessments. The street lights are located by design to provide uniform levels of illumination along the street. The light in front of your house is probably providing light on the street for you neighbors on either side and across the street. These neighbors will be assessed their share of the cost of operating and maintaining the light located in front of your house as well as other lights which may benefit their property. The Administrative Code provides that each property owner be assessed for street lighting maintenance in proportion to the amount of benefit received.
Various factors affect the final amount of assessment.
In order to keep administrative costs at a minimum the City has arranged for you to include payment of the street lighting maintenance assessment as a part of your annual County Tax bill. The amount may be somewhat larger based on the factors described in the answer to the question above. Also, the administrative coordination with the County Tax bill requires that the first payment for street lighting maintenance assessment be for the initial 3-year period of street lighting operation. Thereafter, it will be for a 1-year period. The Public Hearings are held so that any property owner who feels that an error or irregularity has occurred may describe the situation and have it resolved.