KINGS BEACH, Calif. – A number of people who own parcels along Highway 28 through downtown will soon be paying an annual fee to help maintain streetscape improvements upon completion of the Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project.

In a 4-0 vote Tuesday, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved the formation of a Benefit Assessment District, after tabulated ballots – weighed by their dollar amount – indicated parcel owners within the proposed district supported the measure.

In all, 123 ballots representing $78,083.74 of proposed assessments voted in favor, while 56 ballots representing $42,930.20 were against.

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Since there was no majority protest – meaning more than 50 percent of weighted opposition – the board had the authority to form the district, said Peter Kraatz, deputy director of Placer County Department of Public Works, at Tuesday’s meeting at the North Tahoe Event Center.

The total annual amount the district will collect from parcel owners is $166,000, which will mostly cover snow management along with trash removal; sidewalk cleaning; landscape maintenance; reserve funds for damage, repair or replacement of improvements; and administration fees.

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The district will extend on both sides of Highway 28, from Highway 267 to Chipmunk Street.

Impacted property owners will have a new charge on their property tax bill once project improvements are ready for maintenance.

According to previous reports, the highway portion of the $48 million project, which aims to improve bike and pedestrian safety and the aesthetics and feel of downtown, is likely to get under way this year and will take at least two years to complete.

A total of 290 assessment ballots were mailed to parcel owners by Placer County on Nov. 29, but only 187 ballots were turned in the allotted time, with eight of those ballots deemed invalid.

The vote was 4-0 since district 1 Supervisor Jack Duran did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.