Selfishness--or Reaction to Behind-the-Scenes Tax Hike?

Articles in The Times on Aug. 6, 7, 8 and 10 have as their subjects assessments by the ubiquitous use of the Lighting and Landscape Act on the part of several school districts. The assessments range from $50 to $17 annually. Five school districts have now rescinded, such rescission due in large part by the publicity given to groups opposed in each district.

The newspapers, including yours, have done an excellent service for such communities with one exception, the community of Rossmoor. Per capita, this unincorporated bedroom section of Orange County has suffered a greater setback.

We are facing a $109 annual fee and our 3,600 homeowners will have a 30-year obligation. This per the terms of a sale by the Los Alamitos Unified School District of an unused school site, ostensibly for a park, though the site is still under lease to a private church school.

The school district used a clever ploy in having our Rossmoor Community Service District make use of the 1972 Lighting and Landscape Act for the purchase. The deal was between the school district and the RCSD without a two-thirds approval by the electorate, as called for by Proposition 13. All Rossmoor homeowners are now obligated on a $5-million bond.

In effect, the Los Alamitos School District has stuck us for far more than the five districts that have applied and then rescinded their small fees.

ROBERT J. BRISSENDEN, Los Alamitos