City FAQs • Finance

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Finance

1. What does LID stand for?: The acronym LID stands for Local Improvement District, LID’s assist properties in financing improvements through the formation of special assessment districts.

An LID is a financing method for a specific area for various types of improvements such as:

Street overlays, repair, and construction Street Lighting
Utility Expansion (water, sewer, storm drain, irrigation) Overhead power conversion to underground
Alley way improvements
Street beautification and revitalization projects Park construction and improvements

Generally, a response, in favor of the improvements, of at least 50% of the participating properties is required to move forward. Property owners agree to pay for the improvements over a period of time (10 years for street improvements and 15 years for utility-related improvements). The City finances the costs of the improvements and collects the payments from the property owners.

3. Why use LID’s?: LID’s allow expansion of infrastructure or improvements to existing neighborhoods using funds contributed by the benefited property. The cost of the improvements is divided proportionally among the properties participating in the LID. LID’s also allow for payment for the improvements to be stretched out over a period of 10-15 years at a low interest rate.

4. Who do I talk to if I want to form an LID?: The Engineering Department would be the first point of contact.

5. How do I start an LID?

LID’s are typically started with interested property owners approaching the City about desired improvements, usually in the form of a signed petition. The more property owners who are interested in the LID for a given area the more likely a successful formation will occur.

After the petition is received the City LID Administrator will hold an informal neighborhood meeting and send out an interest survey to all properties within the proposed LID boundary to judge the amount of properties in favor of the improvements. Generally, a response, in favor of the improvements, of at least 50% of the participating properties is required to move forward.

If the LID Administrator deems that the LID is likely to succeed, they will recommend to City Council that the LID be formed and a public formation hearing will be held.

View the full LID process: Click Here

6. What if I do not want to participate in the LID?

Property owners will be given several opportunities to present their opposition to the LID. The first opportunity comes at the neighborhood meeting. This is an informal protest and is only used by the LID administrator to determine if the LID should be presented to City Council or not. The second opportunity comes at the formation hearing. Property owners must submit a written protest in addition to the optional verbal protest at the hearing. The final opportunity to protest formation of the LID comes after the formation hearing during the required 30-day protest period. Again, all protests must be submitted in writing to be considered. Note that, in any of these stages, no response is considered as being in favor of the LID.

Property owners should keep in mind that while a small number of properties may protest the formation of the LID the LID may still be formed if the majority of the properties are in favor the improvements.

7. What happens at the LID Formation Hearing?

The LID Administrator will present the LID to the City Council along with details of the proposal, estimated project costs, estimates of the individual property assessments and a summary of support and opposition that has been received.

Property owners that wish to speak for or against the formation of the LID will be given an opportunity to do so. Property owners that wish to protest the formation of the LID must do so in writing, a verbal protest will not be considered a valid protest. Note that no response is considered as being in favor of the LID.

After the City Council has heard all of the information and everyone has had an opportunity to speak the Council must either confirm the formation of the LID by ordinance or decide against creating the LID.

8. Who do I make my payment out to?: The City of Pasco. Payments may be mailed to: PO Box 293, Pasco, WA 99301 or can be made in person at the Customer Service Counter at City Hall, 525 N. 3^rd Ave., Pasco.

9. Can I make monthly payments?

The LID billing system is designed for annual billings. However, you may make a payment at any time. Bills will be sent about 2 months before they are due.

If you make additional payments, please specify on your payment whether it is to be applied to the annual payment or to principal.

10. Is there a payment grace period?: There is a 5-day grace period (calendar days, not business days).

11. How is interest charged?

Interest is calculated based upon the outstanding principal at the beginning of each billing year. Interest is billed annually and is assessed in full on the first day of each billing year. Any payoff of an assessment after the annual billing will be charged a full year’s interest (RCW 35.49.050).

Example: Due date is May 1 and the required minimum payment is made on May 1. Then on July 1, resident is able to pay off. Even though only 2 months have passed, a full year of interest is still charged.

12. Is there payment assistance available?: There is payment assistance available for low-income households meeting the federal qualifying guidelines. For further information, refer to CDBG Coordinator.

13. Why is the title company telling me there is a lien on my property?: A lien against the property is placed at the time the LID district is created by City Council. Under RCW 35.50.010, the lien is enforced against the property until the LID is paid in full. The City of Pasco cannot subordinate LID liens.

14. Why isn’t this included in my mortgage payment like property taxes?

The LID is specific to the property owners of the LID area and the City. It is separate from the general property taxes assess to all residents.