Mello - Roos
 
icon
 
California Tax Data
The seller must provide not only a Notice of Special Tax to disclose the presence of Mello-Roos Community Facilities Districts, but also a Notice of Special Assessment for 1915 Act Special Assessment Districts.
Property Tax Search
Treasurer Tax Collector Orange County, California
 

In 1982, two state legislators, Sen. Henry Mello (Dem., Watsonville) and Assemblyman Mike Roos (Dem., West Hollywood) found a way around proposition 13 and affected passage of a bill known as the Community Facilities Act.  This act authorized local governments and developers to create Community Facilities Districts for the purpose of selling tax-exempt bonds to fund public improvements.  The homeowner then pays an annual special assessment tax, to pay back the bonds.

Most new neighborhoods in Orange County have Mello-Roos fees.  These help pay for new roads, schools, parks, libraries,, and other community services in developing areas.  But they also affect the affordability of houses that have them.

Some of the most important questions you can ask when house hunting are:

  How much is the Mello-Roos?
  How long does it last?
  Does it increase every year?

If you would like to view a line item Property Tax Search, to see if a house that you are considering to buy, has a Mello-Roos tax and how much it is, just fill in the search field with the properties address and then continue until you see the small blue link that says "Click Here for Details".

The Detail report will show you a line item summary of the taxes levied on that property.

If the site is down, you can call 714-834-2455 for the same information.
 
  Understanding Mello-Roos
  What Is Mello-Roos
Mello-Roos is an area where a special tax is imposed on those real property owners within a Community Facilities District.  This district has chosen to seek public improvements and services.  These services may include streets, water, sewage, and drainage, electricity, infrastructure, schools, parks, and police protection to newly developing areas.  The tax you pay is used to make the payments of principal and interest on the bonds.
  Are The Assessments Included Within The Proposition 13 Tax Limits?
No, the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 severely restricted local government in its ability to finance public capital facilities and services by increasing real property taxes.  The “Mello-Roos Community Facility Act of 1982” provided local government with an additional financing tool.  The Proposition 13 tax limits are on the value of the real property, while Mello-Roos taxes are equally and uniformly applied to all properties.
  How Long Does The Tax Stay In Effect?
The tax will stay in effect as long as it is needed to pay the expenses of service or until the principal and interest on the bonds are paid off along with any reasonable administrative costs incurred in collecting the special tax, but in no case shall exceed 40 years.
  What Are My Mello-Roos Taxes Paying For?
Your taxes may be paying for both services and facilities.  The services may be financed only  to the extent of new growth, and services include police protection, fire protection, ambulance and paramedic services, recreation program services, library services, the operation and maintenance of parks, parkways and open spaces, museums, cultural facilities, floor and storm protection and services for the removal of any threatening hazardous substance.  The facilities which may be financed under the Act include property with an estimated useful life of five years or longer, parks, recreation facilities, parkway facilities, open-space facilities, elementary and secondary school sites and structures, libraries, child care facilities, natural gas pipeline facilities, telephone lines, facilities to transmit and distribute electrical energy, cable television and others.
  What Is The Basis For The Tax?
Most special taxes levied on properties within these districts have been structured on the basis of density of development, square footage of construction, or flat acreage changes.  The act, however allows for considerable flexibility in the method of apportionment of taxes, and the local agencies may have established an entirely different method of levying the special tax against property in the district in question.
  How Much Will The Mello-Roos Payments Be?
The amount of tax may vary from year to year, but may not exceed the maximum amount specified when the district was created.  In the case of the purchase of a new house with a subdivision, the maximum amount of the tax will be specified in the public report.

The Resolution of Formation must specify the rate method of apportionment, and manner of collection in sufficient detail to allow each land-owner within the proposed district to estimate the maximum amount that he or she will have to pay.
  How Is The Special Tax Reflected On Real Property Records?
The special tax is a lien on your property, essentially like a regular tax lien.  The lien is recorded as a “Notice of Special Tax Lien” which is continuing to lien to secure each levy of the special tax.
  What Happens If A General Tax Payment Is Not Made On Time?
By purchasing an interest in a subdivision within a Community Facilities District you can expect to be assessed for a Mello-Roos tax which will typically be collected with your general property tax bill.
  How Are Mello-Roos Taxes Affected When The Property Is Sold?
The Mello-Roos tax assessed against the land, but is not based upon the value of the property; therefore the possible increased value of the property is sold.  The amount of the tax may not exceed the original maximum amount stated in the Resolution of Formation.  Any delinquent payments must be satisfied before the sale of the real property since the underpaid amounts are a lien against the property.