What is an SSA?
A Special Service Area (SSA) is a funding mechanism that can be used to support a wide range of special or additional services and/or physical improvements in a defined geographic area within a municipality. This type of district allows local governments to establish such areas without incurring debt or levying a tax on the entire municipality. In short, an SSA allows local governments to tax for and deliver services to limited geographic areas within their jurisdictions.
What does an SSA do?
The function of an SSA depends on what type of SSA it is. There are three types in the Village.
Maintenance SSA
The most common SSA is for maintenance of some shared property within a subdivision or other local area that directly benefits that area. A common example is an SSA for maintenance of a stormwater detention pond; the pond needs to be treated for algae, mowed, periodically burned, etc.
Back-Up SSA
A back-up SSA is similar to a maintenance SSA, but the property owners or an HOA have the primary maintenance responsibility. The Village only completes the maintenance work as a back-up in an emergency. For example, a beaver damn might prohibit a stormwater detention pond from working properly during a heavy rainfall, so the Village could pay to have that dam removed to avoid flooding. These SSAs are generally only taxed by the Village in the year(s) following an emergency expenditure so the Village can recoup the money it spent from a Village-wide fund.
Infrastructure SSA
An infrastructure SSA is an alternative funding mechanism used to help developers finance the construction of certain public improvements required to serve the properties within the development over a longer period of time. The tax collected pays the interest and principle on the bonds and related administrative expenses of the SSA.
Current SSAs in Hampshire
The current SSAs in Hampshire are listed below and pictured in the map to the right, updated in December each year (clickable).
Please note that just because an SSA exists does not mean it is being used. Taxes for SSAs are determined at the end of each calendar year based on the SSAs' current fund balances and proposed work to be done in them. Back-up SSAs are generally not taxed unless emergency work has been done, and the Village needs to recoup that money spent from other Village funds.
SSA#
2
3
4
6
7
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
20
21
22
23
25
26
27
28
Name
Old Mill Manor
Panama
Sterling Oaks
Hampshire Prairie
Hampshire Hills
Hampshire Fields
White Oak Ponds
Hampshire Highlands
Hampshire Meadows
Tuscany Woods
Lakewood Crossings
Lakewood Crossings
Prairie Ridge
Oakstead
Tamms Farm
Tuscany Woods
Hampshire Woods
Loves/Metrix
Hampshire Corporate Center
Stanley Storage Facility
Type
Maintenance
Maintenance
Maintenance*
Maintenance
Maintenance
Maintenance
Maintenance
Maintenance
Maintenance
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Back-Up
Maintenance*
Maintenance*
Maintenance*
Maintenance
Back-Up
Back-Up*
Back-Up*
Back-Up
Note: *indicates SSA is inactive
Numbers that are skipped (eg., SSA No. 1) are SSAs that have been dissolved.