More than 1,000 properties in North Natomas are about to get tax bills from the city because they were undercharged for two years.
From 2007 to 2009, businesses and homeowners were undercharged special taxes earmarked to pay off bonds issued to help construct drainage facilities in the area. The total underpayment: $1.3 million.
A total of 1,075 property owners were undercharged, including a business that owes roughly $215,000.
Budget officials recently discovered the underpayments and sent out bills Friday. Most home and property owners were charged the wrong rates in fiscal years 2007-08 and 2008-09, officials said, but the error was fixed in time for the current fiscal year.
It won't be all bad news as the bills hit: 107 property owners actually overpaid.
The money will be used to pay back the debt secured to pay for the drainage facilities in what is called a Mello-Roos bond district. Community Facilities District No. 4 is most of the area north of Del Paso Road and east of Interstate 5.
The city will offer help to those who owe more than $400 and are not delinquent with their payments. One option will be to pay off the taxes over two years without interest or penalties.
In an e-mail, city spokeswoman Amy Williams said staff will "run audits and fix problems as they arise to help ensure that this does not happen again."
- Ryan Lillis
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