Homeowners to Pay 17% Less in Property Taxes

South Pasadena property owners will pay 17% less on their property taxes for street lighting and landscape maintenance this fiscal year because the cost of maintaining parks will no longer be included.

The City Council on Wednesday night approved lower assessments for the Street Lighting and Landscaping Maintenance District. Some homeowners paying $117 annually will now pay about $20 less.

The change is a result of Proposition 218, a statewide initiative approved last November that requires voters to approve most local taxes and fees. Although the law exempted assessments for streets, it did not grant an exception for parks, which South Pasadena maintained was part of its assessment.

City Manager Sean Joyce said the city chose to fund the $450,000 for park maintenance from city coffers rather than ask voters to approve allowing the assessment to include park maintenance.