A special district may levy, or have levied on its behalf, a rate in addition to the maximum property tax rate established pursuant to this chapter in order to pay the extraordinary costs of purchasing electricity for use for street lighting which was in operating condition in the 1972–73 fiscal year. This section shall apply only to special districts that were in existence on January 1, 1976, and which have as their sole and exclusive purpose the provision of street lighting services. Such additional rate shall be determined in the following manner:
(1) The special district shall determine the actual cost of electricity used for street lighting purposes during the 1972–73 fiscal year.
(2) The special district shall then determine the property tax rate which, applied to such district’s assessed valuation in the 1972–73 fiscal year, would have produced an amount of revenue equivalent to the costs determined pursuant to subdivision (1).
(3) Annually, the special district shall determine whether the property tax rate determined pursuant to subdivision (2) would be increased if such rate were adjusted as provided in Section 2266. If such property tax rate would be increased, it shall be adjusted in the manner provided in Section 2266.
(4) The property tax rate determined pursuant to subdivision (2), as such rate may have been adjusted pursuant to subdivision (3), shall then be applied to the district’s assessed valuation for the current fiscal year. The resulting amount shall represent the cost of electricity for street lighting purposes which shall be funded, during the current fiscal year, out of such district’s maximum property tax rate.
(5) The amount determined pursuant to subdivision (4) shall be subtracted from the actual cost to the district for the current fiscal year of electricity for street lighting which was in operating condition in the 1972–73 fiscal year. The amount resulting from such subtraction shall represent such district’s extraordinary cost of purchasing electricity for street lighting purposes and the special district may levy such additional property tax rate as may be necessary to produce an amount of revenue equivalent to such extraordinary costs. If the amount resulting from such subtraction is a negative amount, the special district shall reduce its property tax rate as may be necessary to produce an amount of revenue which, when deducted from the actual cost to the district for the current fiscal year of electricity for street lighting, will not result in a negative balance.
(Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 461.)