Got a Mills Act Contract? Want One? Your Voice Is Needed — Right Now.
Last November, the Orange City Council paused the Mills Act program to study its costs and impacts. This Tuesday, September 22nd, they'll decide what comes next — and the stakes couldn't be higher for historic homeowners and preservation advocates across the city.
Here's what we know so far: contract holders just received notice that their annual program fee will jump from $100 to $728 — a 682% increase — effective immediately. What else is on the table? We don't know yet. The City indicated that additional details would be released on September 17th. As of this morning, those details had not been posted.
That's not a great sign.
What the Mills Act Actually Does for Homeowners
The Mills Act isn't just a historic preservation tool — it's one of the most powerful financial benefits available to owners of qualifying historic properties in California. Here's what's at stake:
- Significant property tax savings. Mills Act contracts can deliver a substantial reduction in a homeowner's annual property tax bill — for many, that translates to thousands of dollars saved every year.
- Those savings are reinvested where they belong — into the home. The program requires owners to maintain and restore their properties, which means the tax relief directly funds the preservation of the very character that makes these neighborhoods special.
- It increases long-term value. Historically designated homes with Mills Act contracts consistently command premium resale prices. Buyers recognize the combination of architectural significance, protected status, and the opportunity to assume — or apply for — the tax benefit themselves.
- It's transferable. When a Mills Act property sells, the contract can transfer to the new owner, making it a meaningful selling point and a compelling financial incentive for buyers who might otherwise be hesitant about the costs of owning and maintaining an older home.
- Future homeowners benefit too. If you've ever dreamed of owning a piece of Orange's history but worried about the ongoing costs of maintaining an older property, the Mills Act is exactly the kind of program that makes that dream financially viable.
This is not a loophole. It is a deliberate, proven policy tool designed to make preservation sustainable — for individual homeowners and for the City as a whole.
The Bigger Picture
Some Council members have been vocal champions of the Mills Act and everything it represents. Others have expressed real opposition. To make matters more complicated, Council members who live in Old Towne — the heart of our historic district — will likely need to recuse themselves from the vote, reducing the number of supporters at the dais when it matters most.
The City of Orange is navigating a significant budget deficit, and it's entirely reasonable to ask every program to prove its worth. But reasonable also means data-driven. It means weighing the full picture — the property values the Mills Act protects, the reinvestment it generates, the tourism, the civic identity, and the preservation of neighborhoods that simply cannot be rebuilt once they're gone. The Mills Act isn't a giveaway. It's an investment in what makes Orange, Orange.
If this program matters to you, Tuesday night is your moment.
Showing up in person sends a message that no eComment can replicate. The Council needs to see faces — homeowners, neighbors, history lovers, anyone who has ever walked through Old Towne and felt something. Come ready to speak, or simply come ready to stand.
📍 Orange City Council Meeting
📅 Tuesday, September 22 | 6:00 PM
📍 300 East Chapman Avenue, Orange
Can't attend in person? Submit a comment via eComment once the agenda is posted:
👉 https://cityoforange.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3
Note: Not all Council members review eComments before the meeting. In-person attendance is the single most effective way to make your voice heard.
The City of Orange is recognized across California for its remarkable concentration of intact historic homes. That didn't happen by accident — it happened because people showed up, spoke up, and cared. Now it's our turn.
Be there Tuesday.
