Monrovia : New Maintenance Fee OKd
As supporters cheered and opponents jeered, the City Council on Tuesday approved a citywide Lighting and Landscaping Maintenance District that consolidates four existing assessment districts with a new park-maintenance fee.
After four hours of testimony from dozens of residents, council members voted 4 to 1 in favor of the single, higher assessment, which will be used to pay for trees and lights and to maintain medians and parks. Councilwoman Phyllis McCarville dissented.
Mayor Robert Bartlett said the assessment fee is needed because the state had taken nearly $4.5 million in taxes from Monrovia in the past four years.
“Those folks didn’t have the guts to stand up and cut the fat out of their budget,” he said.
Homeowners will see their annual property tax bill rise an average of 20%, from $50.17 to $60.39, because the city is adding the cost of park maintenance to the combined district.
The district combines street-lighting, tree and landscaping districts with the East Duarte Road Maintenance District.
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