Special Service Areas are geographic areas with specific boundaries created by a municipality for the purpose of providing special government services such as infrastructure, street lighting, community gathering space or parking facilities. A special service area tax is levied is the area by the municipality not to exceed 1%. Representative Jack Franks has proposed legislation (HB 0269) requiring authorization, evidenced by a signed petition by 51% or more of the electors residing within the SSA and 51% of the owners of record of the land located within the SSA, before a municipality may create or enlarge an SSA , before a tax may be levied or imposed, and before bonds may be issued. Currently, such actions may be taken after notice and a hearing, unless a petition is filed objecting to the action.
In short, this legislation requires an affirmative agreement of the majority of landowners and electors residing in a proposed SSA area to create an SSA and to impose a tax. This requirement would make it more difficult to establish SSAs even when the municipal officials consider them necessary and in the best interests of the area residents.