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For purposes of this section, the term “new or increased assessment” does not include any of the
following:

(A) A fee that does not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the services, facilities, or
regulatory activity for which the fee is charged.

(B) A service charge, rate, or charge, unless a special district’s principal act requires the service
charge, rate, or charge to conform to the requirements of this section.

(C) An ongoing annual assessment if it is imposed at the same or lower amount as any previous
year.

(D) An assessment that does not exceed an assessment formula or range of assessments
previously specified in the notice given to the public pursuant to subparagraph (G) of paragraph
(2) of subdivision (c) and that was previously adopted by the agency or approved by the voters in
the area where the assessment is imposed.

(E) Standby or immediate availability charges.

(2) The legislative body shall provide at least 45 days’ public notice of the public hearing at
which the legislative body proposes to enact or increase the general tax or assessment. The
legislative body shall provide notice for the public meeting at the same time and in the same
document as the notice for the public hearing, but the meeting shall occur prior to the hearing.

(b) (1) The joint notice of both the public meeting and the public hearing required by
subdivision (a) with respect to a proposal for a new or increased general tax shall be
accomplished by placing a display advertisement of at least one-eighth page in a newspaper of
general circulation for three weeks pursuant to Section 6063 and by a first-class mailing to those
interested parties who have filed a written request with the local agency for mailed notice of
public meetings or hearings on new or increased general taxes. The public meeting pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall take place no earlier than 10 days after the first publication of the joint
notice pursuant to this subdivision. The public hearing shall take place no earlier than seven
days after the public meeting pursuant to this subdivision. Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of
subdivision (a), the joint notice need not include notice of the public meeting after the meeting
has taken place. The public hearing pursuant to subdivision (a) shall take place no earlier than
45 days after the first publication of the joint notice pursuant to this subdivision. Any written
request for mailed notices shall be effective for one year from the date on which it is filed unless
a renewal request is filed. Renewal requests for mailed notices shall be filed on or before April 1
of each year. The legislative body may establish a reasonable annual charge for sending notices
based on the estimated cost of providing the service.

(2) The notice required by paragraph (1) of this subdivision shall include, but not be limited to,
the following:

(A) The amount or rate of the tax. If the tax is proposed to be increased from any previous year,
the joint notice shall separately state both the existing tax rate and the proposed tax rate increase.

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