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Concerned Citizens on the LID
On Sunday afternoon, the Concerned Citizens of Ocean Shores held a meeting on the Street LID.
This was very similar to another recent meeting of citizens, to complain and try to understand the complexities of this mysterious process. Again, more than 100 people turned out.
And, again, city elected officials and staff were notably absent.
Local citizens Don Williams and Al Lizakowski again gave presentations on research they have done on the LID, and concerns with the Macaulay and Associates “Special Benefits” report, which determined how much each property owner will be assessed.
“I read the Macaulay report, and I couldn’t figure it out,” said Williams. “I don’t think anyone can tell you how Macaulay did his preliminary assessment.”
He was referring to a 2007 report. A final “Special Benefit/Proportionate Assessment Study” was released last month.
Lizakowski later said: “It looks to me like they found a number and worked their way back.
“We’re asking for a meeting for Macaulay to come down here and explain what he did,” Lizakowski forcefully said, repeating an earlier demand. He’ll be presenting a petition asking for the Macaulay meeting on Monday night, at the City Council meeting.
Questions and comments from more than 100 people who filled the Lions Club:
“Who did Macaulay contact to come up with these assessments?”
“I think it should be done a fair way, you should be charged for the lineal footage in front of your property.”
“There was nothing wrong with Point Brown Avenue, it was done three years ago, why did they repave it?”
“Road maintenance is supposed to come out of our regular taxes. Why is this happening at all?”
“I was in California working for a transportation department. This was done badly.”
“What in the world does Special Benefit have to do with putting asphalt down on roads?”
“What would happen if we all said ‘No! We’re not going to pay this LID!’”
Several thanked the presenters, including a woman who said,
“I just moved here, this is the first information I’ve had about any of this.”
Larry Phoenix, who said he was not happy with Macaulay after dealing with him on the Illahee-Oyehut sewer project, suggested a class action suit might be the only way to get results. But, he told the room, “I don’t want to sue, because then I’m suing myself, and I’m suing you.”
i always thought a lid was something you put on a pot to keep it from boiling over. it ain’t working.
The small business owner will pay in the long run in the form of increased rent so the landlord can pay the “special benefit”.
If it drives them out of business, so be it. It’s our loss.
As for low and fixed income folks, they’re just like businesses. if they can’t afford it, there are less expensive places to live.
(Just North or East of O.S.)
There were protests. However, the original mailing went out 4th class mail. That means no forwarding for people with winter homes elsewhere. The letters were returned to the city. Many looked at the original data and questioned it. However, Council did not listen to those people either. The process based your “Protest Value” on your property value. Sort of like a point system. 60% of the property value had to protest to stop it. Pretty hard when 3/4 of the lots are absentee owners and are vacant. The people only want to understand how the consultatnt came to his figures. The issue of linear feet vs. Special Benefit based on valuation is already past. That was in the original LID ordinance. The issue now is how he got his values. Simple as that. Also, as stated before, the ratio for Business Property Values and Residential Values compared to the Whole Value before and after the LID shows a 17% of property value in Business Properties (LAND) and 82% in Residential Properties (Land). However, the Special Benefit and Assessment are at 8.44% Business Properties and 91.55% as Residential Properties. If this is supposed to be value based, then there is something wrong.
So far, “fixed-income” makes the most sense of anything I have read yet. Where were all these meetings and demands and ultimatums PRIOR to the LID being passed? Shame on us for not getting involved in the first place. It’s easy to go along BEHIND someone and find fault. It’s not nearly as hard as trying to figure something out BEFORE HAND. After the fact ranting and raving does nothing except get people worked up and in a panic. Another thought on paying for lineal frontage? How about corner lots where three sides are fronted? How about Ocean Shores Blvd and Point Brown lots? There are 4 lanes of asphalt on their frontage verses one or two lanes for other properties. Do those people pay 4 times? Double lane 2 times the price of a single lane? I’m not ecstatic about this whole process, but the fact remains WE owe $44 mil. WE allowed this to happen in the first place. Lawsuits and studies at this point are going to ADD to the cost…not relieve it. The time for real action was BEFORE, not after. This is the third time this kind of thing has happened here as far as I know. It’s a pattern that needs to be broken. Maybe we should spray paint it on the wall of City Hall so next time this comes up we will remember.
They too can pay it over 18 years. It probably would not be the small business owner that would pay here. Many of the businesses rent from a landlord. Maybe the better question would be: I wonder how many of our low and fixed income people this would finally drive under?
Many of the B1 and B2 lots are undeveloped. Take a look at the city zoning map.
” Also, if the ratio of how they assessed business vs. residential property is in error, that could represent an additional 9 to 10% savings to the residential property owner.”
Wouldn’t this also effectively double (8.44% to 17%) the amount the businesses would have to pay? I wonder how many of our small businesses this would finally drive under?
The difference between the property owners paying and the city paying is that you can deduct your property taxes. The assessment for the LID is not something you can deduct. Also, if the ratio of how they assessed business vs. residential property is in error, that could represent an additional 9 to 10% savings to the residential property owner. That is not insignificent. Those people with almost 10K assessments and even those with 3200 assessments save. The amount is almost equal to what you would save with the 10% lump sum payment some may take. If nothing more, it is one year’s interest if you take their terms.
Has anyone suggested a solution to this? What is the goal other than just lowering the individual charges. Does anybody truly expect either Lakeside or Macauly to lower their charges? (Even if Macauly waived its latest $300,000 it would only come out to around $25.00 per lot. As far as I can see, regardless how the payment is allocated back to the landowners, we still will owe $44M.
Reallocation will only benefit some people and burden others, so where’s the gain? Frontage foot will reward those on cul-de-sacs while penalizing those with corner lots. Straight “per lot” will reward those with higher valued property (ocean front, lake front, commercial, etc.) while sticking it to those with interior lots of less value. The current allocation is an attempt to balance these out, but there are still unhappy people. There is no way to make everybody happy other than just reducing the overall bill and I don’t see that happening.
Even if the city pays its share on all city owned property, where is the money going to come from? (Us, that’s who! So, bottom line, it’s still $44M)
Or maybe we should demand that those that are complaining have their costs lowered and the rest of us can take up the slack.
Added: “how do corruption and kick back sound?”
Good question. What would an independent audit of Macauly, Lakeside and associated businesses cost? Who’s going to pick up that tab?
how do corruption and kick back sound?
I agree about the ‘buyer beware’ clause. We’ve been here less than three years, and between being held hostage by the thieving community center and our pathetic local government, we are already considering getting the hell out.
The real question should be: Why do the ratios of B1 & B2 (Business) and All R (Residential) properties represent almost an 17% to 82% ratio relationship for valuation until you come to the Recommended Assessment where it changes to 8.44% for B1 & B2 and 91.55% for R (Residental)? That is almost a 9% shift to residental property for the assessment.
Lynn did show up and stand by the door for some time.
does anyone else feel like a hostage in your own home? can i put a toll gate up on my “special benefit” section of road and collect a fee?
Those “notably city elected officials and staff should be barred from ever going back to their offices the following Monday morning” if they are going to ignore the next LID meeting. Doesn’t Ocean Shores have an impeachment clause for this type of behavior? Who wants a government that does not represent the people in public and only makes up rules to benefit their interests. I have been observing Ocean Shores for decades and it is a really weird place to own real estate. If there ever was a “buyer beware clause” needed for buying real estate Ocean Shores is that place and a lot of people know it and would NEVER buy into it precisely because of what is happening right now. Try holding the town meeting in the street in front of the “officials” house during dinner next time. If they don’t want to come to the meeting bring the meeting to them.