NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a public hearing for April 5, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Chambers located at 385 North Arrowhead Avenue, 1st Floor, San Bernardino, California to consider the adoption of a proposed resolution authorizing a special tax for the purpose of providing increase road maintenance and fire services.

State law requires that a special tax can only be imposed if 2/3 of the voters registered in the area of the proposed special tax who return their ballot vote in favor of the tax. Each registered voter will have 1 vote. Only those ballots returned will be counted.

Enclosed is your Official Mailed Special Tax Ballot for you to vote whether you are in favor of or opposed to the special tax for road improvement and maintenance services and full time fire service.

HOW TO VOTE YOUR SPECIAL TAX BALLOT

The enclosed ballot card is to be used to express support for or opposition to the proposed special tax to incur debt for road improvements and for road maintenance services. In order to be counted the Ballot Declaration on the back of the Identification/Return Envelope must be signed by the registered voter and the Ballot returned in accordance with these instructions.

The ballot question is printed directly on your ballot card. You do not need a sample ballot or special punching device in order to vote your ballot.

To vote your ballot, use a pencil or pen to mark an "X" in the voting square after the word "Yes" or after the word "No". Please be sure to vote for both the Fire and Road Special Tax. Your vote will not count if you do not mark in the box.

RETURNING YOUR SPECIAL TAX BALLOT

1. Remove the ballot stub carefully and retain it as your receipt.

2. Place the ballot card in the ballot return envelope, and seal the envelope.

3. Deliver the envelope either by mail or in person as follows:

Mail Delivery: If by mail, mail with the required postage stamp one calendar week prior to the election date on May 20, 2005. Mailing later than this deadline creates the risk that the ballot may not be received in time to be counted.

Personal Delivery: If in person, to the Registrar of Voters, 777 Rialto, San Bernardino, at any time up to 5:00 p.m. May 20, 2005.

Regardless of which method of delivery is used, the ballot must be received in the ballot return envelope prior to the close of the election date of May 20, 2005 to be counted.

If you wrongly stamp, tear or deface this ballot, write "spoiled" across the face of the ballot, check the SPOILED box on the return envelope and return it to the Special Districts Department, 157 West Fifth St, 2nd Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415 and another ballot will be issued to you. If you have any questions, please contact the San Bernardino County Special Districts Department at (909) 387-6067.

The following pages contain additional information regarding the proposed Special Tax, Ballot procedures and protests.

SPECIAL TAX INFORMATION

     1.  Amount of Special Tax on Parcel. The amount of the proposed Special Tax for the parcels in County Service Area 70 Improvement Zone M (Wonder Valley) hereafter "CSA 70, M" is $30 per parcel per year with a 2.5% annual increase for road maintenance and $30 per parcel per year for fire with an optional 2.5% annual increase as needed. This is stated on the enclosed Special Tax Ballot.

     2.  Duration of Special Tax. The duration of the proposed Special Tax is for the period of Fiscal Year 2005-2006 and continues thereafter.

     3.  Reason for Special Tax. The reason for the Special Tax for roads is to hire a full time equipment operator for road grading and to be used for storm recovery. The reason for the Special Tax for fire is to convert the Wonder Valley fire station from a paid call fire station to a 24 hour manned fire station.

A special tax is only permitted if the ballots are mailed to the registered voters in the area subject to the proposed Special Tax and 2/3 of the ballots returned by the election date of May 20, 2005 are in favor of the proposed special tax.

     4.  Area subject to Special Tax. The parcels included in the boundaries of CSA 70, Improvement Zone M (Wonder Valley).

BALLOT PROCEDURES

     1. Persons Entitled to Ballot. Individuals who are registered to vote in the area subject to the Special Tax on the date the mailing list for the Special Tax is generated.

     2. One Ballot Per Registered Voter. Only one ballot shall be counted for each registered voter, even if there is more than one registered voter per household or the registered voter does not own property.

Wonder Valley Fire and Road Increase Payment Schedule 

$30 per year with 2.5% increase per year

The Board of Supervisors retains the authority otherwise conferred by law to make changes in the boundaries of the proposed Special Tax area, the extent of the services to be provided and the amount of the special tax (including the amounts of any individual taxed); provided, however, the Special Tax area shall not be expanded nor any tax increased beyond that specified by this notice without the proceedings in compliance with all laws. If you have any questions, please contact the San Bernardino County Special Districts Department at (909) 387-6067.

All information provided by the San Bernardino County Special Districts Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department.

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