(MANTECA, CA) -- What does it benefit the City of Manteca to have land Annexed unto itself? Is it for the purpose of updating and modernizing city infrastructure?
Or is it for the purpose of residents having access to city services?
The pursuit of land annexation in Manteca lies in the ability of the city to sustain itself financially, all the while trying to accommodate the rapid influx of people seeking a more affordable place to live.
Over the past couple of years, the City of Manteca has been rapidly expanding.
Whether it be in the form of the two new schools it is trying to construct on the Tinnin Road and Tara Park locations in southern Manteca, the 4-C Ranch project that will produce 68 new single-family homes, or the Oakwood Shores and Raymus Village project that will help bring in sustainable city services to those communities, expansion is actively happening in the city.
Photo Credit: Manteca Unified School District
In any event, these projects will require the annexation of many acres of land for these projects to even be feasible. Annexation, which is the act of a city accumulating unincorporated adjacent lands to be within its jurisdiction, is for the benefit of the city and the residents therein.
As unincorporated lands are acquired by the city, the resources and services such as fire departments, street maintenance, and water sewage services, for example, become easily accessible and more readily available to residents from those once-unincorporated lands.
The process by which land annexation is initiated is through first filing an application with the Local Agency Formation Commission or LAFC, which is directly responsible for setting the boundaries for both cities and districts.
Three other items must be submitted as well: an official city council proclamation, maps of the property, and a petition from the property owners.
Through successful annexation, the city greatly benefits as its revenue increases via property, sales, and utility taxes that the newly added residents are now subject to paying on account of their addition.
Photo Credit: San Joaquin LAFco
In Feb. 2024, in a landmark decision between the City of Manteca and San Joaquin County, the City was able to acquire a bigger share of property taxes through land annexations. Traditionally, the split between the City and the County was 80-20 (county-city).
It was acknowledged, however, that because the City of Manteca carries more of the financial burden for services and upkeep, the split had been changed to 60-40 (county-city).
This decision is intended to help cover the city’s deficit that occurs from services rendered via property taxes on the land that is being developed after it was annexed.
Property taxes are a primary source of funding for the services many cities offer.
But that's just the controversy: the city's services. While the many benefits of maintenance upkeep along with fire and law protection are expected, former unincorporated residents find themselves now subject to new, stricter municipal codes and regulations that they weren’t subject to before the annexation.
Homeowners who fall within the Tinnin Road annexation who live in more rural areas will have to abide by city codes regarding livestock, water wells, or the use of septic tanks. Their lifestyles are also often affected by matters unrelated to them.
This new school project is important for the district. Not only does it show the care of education in Manteca, it is a response from the city showing a positive growth trend.
Photo Credit: Manteca Unified School District
According to the Mantecausd.net , the clear projection is increased enrollment within the Manteca area south of Highway 120 in the coming years.
The same can be said of the many residential areas being built in an attempt to accommodate the growing population of people who are now choosing to call Manteca home.
According to the official Annexation plan for the North Union Ranch Project, which aims to build 465 new units on 106 acres of land, it states that one of the primary reasons for this annexation is to fulfill Fair Share Housing Needs.
Fair Share Housing Needs is the need to construct equitable housing for the purpose of combating racial zoning and segregation.
The plan states that this annexation is crucial for the city of Manteca to reach its goal in fulfilling regional housing needs as determined by the San Joaquin Council of Governments (or SJCG).
Through the process of protest hearings, both landowners and voters alike have the opportunity to voice their concerns, whether in support or in opposition to the process of land annexation.
Please feel free to reach out to me at yikaileau.w@lead4earth.org.
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