California Code, Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 36551

(a) Upon the disestablishment of an area, any remaining revenues derived from the levy of assessments, or any revenues derived from the sale of assets acquired with the revenues, shall be refunded to the owners of the businesses then located and operating within the area in which assessments were levied by applying the same method and basis that was used to calculate the assessments levied in the fiscal year in which the area is disestablished.

(b) If the disestablishment occurs before an assessment is levied for the fiscal year, the method and basis that was used to calculate the assessments levied in the immediate prior fiscal year shall be used to calculate the amount of any refund. Notice of the disestablishment of an area shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the city, not later than 15 days after the ordinance disestablishing the area is adopted.