Commissioners set parameters for proposed hardship deferral program for neighborhood improvements

County staff presented options for a proposed financial hardship deferral program that would allow qualifying property owners to defer special assessments tied to neighborhood infrastructure projects (for example, road elevation or canal projects) and described program mechanics, eligibility tests and potential interest charges. Rhonda Hague, leading the item, said the county has not implemented such a program before and emphasized the need to set policy choices now so staff can draft ordinance language.

"So these deferrals could sit there for many years, could be decades even," Hague said, explaining that deferred assessments would remain as liens on properties and be paid back on sale. Commissioners provided direction on a suite of policy questions: they agreed that any accrued deferrals should remain on the county’s books until the property sells; they favored limiting participation to homesteaded properties only; they supported charging interest (with staff to recommend a formula); they agreed to exclude median and moderate income tiers and to set a program minimum annual assessment threshold of roughly $1,500; and they favored asset‑test multipliers in the 7–10x range and periodic re‑verification at approximately five‑year intervals.

Staff will return draft ordinance language and a financing plan, including a recommended interest calculation and operational budget for the program, for the board’s later consideration.