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Q: What is a SLID?

A: A SLID is a neighborhood partnership and very common practice in which property owners in a defined area agree to pay the costs to operate and maintain their immediate area’s street lights through a property tax. All new developments in the City of Surprise require a SLID.

Q: Why has a SLID not been formed in my neighborhood?

A: During development various stages occur at different times over many years and a SLID can be missed. Each situation has different reasons as to why a SLID was not formed. Nevertheless, the City of Surprise municipal code, under final platting, states that a SLID is required to be formed.

Q: What roadways are applicable under a SLID?

A: All roadways within the City of Surprise are required by municipal code to have a SLID except for the roadways built to the classification of a Parkway, Major Arterial, or Minor Arterial roadway. This would include Bell, Greenway, Waddell, Cactus, Litchfield, Bullard, etc. The lighting on these roadways are paid by the City of Surprise.

Q: How can my property secure a SLID?

A: The formation of a SLID requires that a majority of the property owners within the area sign a petition requesting a SLID. If the majority signs, everyone is included, not just those that signed.

Q: What does a majority consist of?

A: A majority consists of at least 50% plus 1 of the property owners within the area covered by the proposed SLID. Each SLID is different. In some cases a property may have multiple owners. For example, 10 properties are proposed to be with a SLID, five of the ten properties have two owners. The total number of owners is 15 and in order to form a SLID, eight of the owners would need to sign the petition.

Q: What happens after the signatures are received?

A: The petition is then filed with the City Council for approval. The county will collect the money for the operations and maintenance of the street lights at the same time as the real estate taxes are collected.

Q: What happens if not enough signatures are received?

A: The lights may be turned off or the property owners may join resources in order to form a smaller SLID to accommodate the immediate needs.

Q: What is the cost to the property owner?

A: The street lighting costs are on average $12 per month or $144 per year for one standard street light. The individual cost per parcel is then calculated by multiplying by the total number of streetlights by $144 and then divided by the total number of parcels.

Q: How is the cost of the streetlight within a SLID divided among the property owners within that SLID?

A: The Arizona Revised Statues allows the city to assess the taxes in one of two ways. One is equal apportionment based on the number and classification of the properties. The other method is a proportional share based on assessed value of each property. The City of Surprise prefers to have equal apportionment because all property owners share the same benefit of the lights; you and all your neighbors should pay the same.

Q: Is there a maximum amount of money I would pay toward a SLID?

A: Yes, Arizona Revised Status only allows $1.20 per $100 of the assessed value eligible for collection. For example, if the limited value of a property is $200,000 and the assessed value is $20,000, the most per year that can be collected for the SLID from that property is $240.

Q: Who has been paying for the street lights so far?

A: Each case is different. Most of the situations the city began to pay for the bills. Others the developer continued to pay or the home owners association paid.