LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 1Ch. 3Art. 5§ 23384 County Tax Debt Relief

§ 23384 County Tax Debt Relief

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 23384 County Tax Debt Relief

Key Takeaways

  • •If a new county is created, the people living there don’t have to pay certain old debts from their old county starting the next year.
  • •People still living in the old county also don’t have to pay some debts if the new county takes over those debts.
  • •This doesn’t mean the debts disappear—someone still has to pay them, just not the people in the new or old county right away.
  • •If someone lent money (like a bondholder), they can still ask for their money back if the new county doesn’t pay.

Example

Imagine a small town splits off to become its own county. The old county owed money for building a library.

The people in the new county won’t have to pay taxes for that library debt starting next year. The people still in the old county might also stop paying if the new county takes over the debt. But the old county still has to pay the debt somehow if the new county doesn’t.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 23384 County Tax Debt Relief

Except as provided by the commission, upon creation of the proposed county the territory located within the proposed county shall be relieved of annual tax liability for outstanding indebtedness of each affected county in the year next succeeding the election on creation of the proposed county when assessments or taxes are to be levied for payment of such indebtedness. Territory remaining in the affected county or counties upon the creation of the proposed county shall be relieved of annual tax liability for any outstanding indebtedness of such affected county or counties which the commission determines is to be assumed by the proposed county. Such relief shall become effective in the year next succeeding the year in which the election on creation of the proposed county is held when assessments or taxes are to be levied for payment of such indebtedness. Nothing in this section shall be construed as in any way limiting the power of a bondholder to enforce his contractual rights; and nothing in this section shall affect the ultimate liability of territory of the affected county or counties, or of the proposed county for bonded indebtedness of the affected county or counties, or of the proposed county for bonded indebtedness of the affected county or counties in case of default. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1392.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

liabilitycreationcontractcommissionelection

Related Statutes

  • § 23334 County Debt Distribution Rules
  • § 23359 County Formation Ballot Pamphlet
  • § 23369 County Creation Election Requirements
  • § 23383 County Service Transfer Contracts
  • § 23386 County Debt And Legal Continuity

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 23384.
View Official Source