Deadline Approaching For Danville Lighting District Fee Vote

DANVILLE, CA — Danville residents are asked to vote whether to increase Lighting and Landscape Assessment District fees by May 20. Ballots were mailed to all Danville residences, and contain customized figures for how much each individual homeowner will pay if the measure passes.

The ballot proposal would increase rates by an average $87 per year per single-family homeowner, though individual amounts will vary.

All Danville property owners already contribute to the LLAD, which is used to fund parks, streetlights, and other landscaped public spaces in the town. However, the original assessment structures did not include an escalator to address cost increases and additional facilities, which has resulted in a growing funding gap. The town has taken steps to reduce expenses, like retrofitting streetlights and introducing more sophisticated water management systems.

Despite these steps, LLAD revenue has increased by 3.1% since 2003, though expenditures have risen 78%, and many costs are covered by the town’s General Fund. Since 2003, the General Fund’s contribution to the LLAD fund has increased by 607%, the town said. If the LLAD adjustment is not approved, the General Fund will continue covering the shortfall, but services may be cut eventually.

The LLAD would include an escalator that increases costs that are capped at either 3% or the Bay Area CPI, whichever is lower. It will also include an updated assessment tool to spread costs more fairly, including per-unit apartment costs rather than per-parcel.

See here to learn more and watch the recorded community meeting on the topic.