What is Mello-Roos ?

The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 provides a versatile method of financing public facilities, infrastructure and services associated with new development.

It can finance a wide range of facilities and services at interest rates that are typically several percent below conventional financing rates.

In the first years after passage of the Mello-Roos Act, many developers viewed it suspiciously as another vehicle by which public agencies could impose additional burdens on their projects.

Today, however, developers view that as an important tool in the development process that can often mean the difference between a project's success and failure.

What is a Mello-Roos District ?

A Mello-Roos District, or "Community Facilities District," is a financing district formed under the Community Facilities District Act of 1982. (Code section 5311, et seq.).

It provides designated local agencies, including cities, counties, school districts and all other municipal corporations and districts with authority to form Mello-Roos Districts to finance a broad array of public facilities and services through imposition of special taxes approved by a two-thirds vote of the qualified electorate of the District. This vote is conducted by either registered voters, or, if there are fewer than twelve registered voters within the proposed District, by landowners.

The facilities or services may be funded either through bonded indebtedness secured by the special taxes or directly from the special tax proceeds on a 'pay-as-you-go' basis.

Ask your realtor if the property is in a Mello-Roos district. Your realtor will be happy to provide that information.