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In 1982, State Senator Henry Mello and Assemblyman Michael Roos affected the passage
of the Community Facilities District Act (referred to as Mello Roos). This Act provided
a method to finance certain infrastructure improvements such as parks, roads and schools
within communities.
In Serrano, this Mello Roos special tax authority was used for two purposes. The El Dorado
County Mello Roos was used to finance major roads, water and sewer facilities, reclaimed
water facilities for landscape irrigation, designated public parks, and trails to the natural
open space areas. A second Mello Roos special tax was established to fund the construction
of up to four elementary/intermediate schools within Serrano, as well as a high school
at an undetermined site.
The facilities and improvements that are being financed through the Mello Roos special
tax are the type of "quality of life" features that are attracting home and lot buyers
to Serrano. For example:
- Parents are looking for communities with good school systems that are able to accommodate growth.

- Home buyers place a premium on neighborhood parks as well as natural open space areas with
trails for walking, hiking, and biking.
Property owners in Serrano are responsible for the payment of this special tax, which
appears on the county's annual property tax bill. The county Mello Roos tax is based on
the median lot size for each recorded subdivision and the schools Mello Roos tax is based on
the square foot of assessable space in the home. A typical county Mello Roos tax is
approximately $938 (or $78 per month) and the schools Mello Roos would be approximately
$820 (or $68 per month) for a 2,500-square-foot home. This is general information only;
please contact the County of El Dorado for information for a specific property.
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