FAQs about annexation

What Chapman / Mulberry residents should know

Will my taxes go up?

Yes and no. The city assesses a 5 percent tax on utility bills that averages $182 annually per household. Property taxes are the same in the city and county, so no change there. Some residents may be paying county assessments for services such as street lighting, animal control and road maintenance; these costs will be absorbed by the city.

Will I be forced to connect to the sewer system?

No, but if your septic fails, you can’t just buy a new tank. You’ll need to hook up to the sewer.

Will my neighborhood be required to install curbs, gutters and sidewalks?

Only new or expanded development will be required to install such improvements. Current streetscapes otherwise will not change.

Will we lose Community Development Block Grant funding?

Former Supervisor Jane Dolan has charged that annexation will cost Chapman/Mulberry “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in lost funding that historically has been used for housing rehabilitation. That’s not necessarily the case. Yes, the county has spent a lot of CDBG money in Chapman/Mulberry over the years, but its funding is competitive and not guaranteed. The city, in contrast, is an “entitlement community” that is guaranteed funding every year. With annexation, Chapman/ Mulberry residents will have a voice in determining how that funding is dispersed, according to city Housing Officer Marie Demers.

Can I keep my chickens?

Yes. The city of Chico allows backyard fowl coops, with certain restrictions (no roosters!).

Will annexation and sewers lead to gentrification?

Undoubtedly. But the protections provided by the Chapman-Mulberry Neighborhood Plan mean the changes will happen gradually and in conformance with neighborhood desires.