REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
Accept Certified Election Results and Various Actions Pertaining to Adjusted Property Related Service Charges for Various County Service Area Road Districts
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of Board Governed County Service Area 70 and Zones:
1. Adopt the certified results of the mailed ballot property owner election held on June 6, 2026, regarding the proposed adjustment of annual property related service charge for each of the following Zones:
a. County Service Area 70, Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain): Passed, with 335 votes in favor (51.9%) and 310 votes opposed, approving an increase from $20 per parcel per year to $75 per parcel per year, with an annual inflationary adjustment of up to 3%, effective 2026-27.
b. County Service Area 70, Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights): Not approved, with 125 votes in favor (45.1%) and 152 votes opposed, rejecting the proposed increase from $15 per parcel per year to $90 per parcel per year.
c. County Service Area 70, Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa West): Not approved, with 23 votes in favor (43.4%) and 30 votes opposed, rejecting the proposed increase from $35 per parcel per year to $100 per parcel per year.
d. County Service Area 70, Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa East): Not approved, with 20 votes in favor (28.6%) and 50 votes opposed, rejecting the proposed increase from $30 per parcel per year to $90 per parcel per year.
2. Adopt Resolution for County Service Area 70, Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain) that:
a. Repeals portions of Resolution No. 86-222 initially establishing an annual property related service charge of $20 per parcel for road maintenance for County Service Area 70, Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain).
b. Authorizes a new property related service charge of $75 per parcel per year, with an annual inflationary increase of up to 3%, for providing road maintenance and dirt road grading services, effective 2026-27, for County Service Area 70, Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain).
c. Reaffirm that the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector is directed to place the adopted charge on the 2026-27 tax roll.
3. Determine that the proposed adjusted property-related service charges for County Service Area 70, Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights), County Service Area 70, Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa West), and County Service Area 70, Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa East) were not approved by the mailed ballot property owner election and therefore shall not be adopted or placed on the 2026-27 tax roll.
4. Direct the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector that the existing annual property-related service charges shall remain in effect for the following zones unless and until lawfully changed by future Board action:
a. County Service Area 70, Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights): $15 per parcel per year.
b. County Service Area 70, Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa West): $35 per parcel per year.
c. County Service Area 70, Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa East): $30 per parcel per year.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of these items will not result in the use of Discretionary General funding (Net County Cost). All costs associated with the property related service charge adjustments of County Service Area 70, Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain), County Service Area 70, Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights), County Service Area 70, Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa West), and County Service Area 70, Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa East) (collectively, the “Zones”) are funded through property-related service charges paid by property owners within each respective Zone.
Based on the certified results of the mailed ballot property owner election held on June 6, 2026, the proposed increase for County Service Area 70, Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain) was approved. The proposed increases for County Service Area 70, Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights), County Service Area 70, Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa West), and County Service Area 70, Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa East) were not approved. Therefore, only the annual property-related service charge for County Service Area 70, Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain) will increase, from $20 per parcel per year to $75 per parcel per year, with an annual inflationary adjustment of up to 3%, effective 2026-27. The existing rates for the remaining Zones will continue unchanged.
The Zones currently generate annual revenue of $66,050 through the existing property-related service charges. With the approved increase for County Service Area 70, Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain), the Zones are projected to generate approximately $178,580 in aggregate revenue in 2026-27, an increase of approximately $112,530.
|
County Service Area/Zone |
Current Service Charge Revenue |
Adopted/Continuing Service Charge Revenue |
Difference |
|
CSA 70, Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain) |
$ 40,920 |
$ 153,450 |
$ 112,530 |
|
CSA 70, Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights) |
$ 11,385 |
$ 11,385 |
$ 0 |
|
CSA 70, Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa - West) |
$ 6,335 |
$ 6,335 |
$ 0 |
|
CSA 70, Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa - East) |
$ 7,410 |
$ 7,410 |
$ 0 |
|
Totals: |
$ 66,050 |
$ 178,580 |
$ 112,530 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Between 1986 and 1991, the Zones were formed to provide road maintenance and dirt road grading services for approximately 147 miles of dirt roads in the Landers area. When the Zones were formed, each Zone established an annual service charge ranging from $15 to $35 per parcel. However, there was no inflationary factor built into the service charge and, therefore, the annual charges have remained unchanged for 36 to 42 years.
Over time, inflation and increased maintenance costs have reduced the amount of road maintenance and dirt road grading services that can be provided within the Zones. If an annual inflationary adjustment of 3% had been included when the charges were established, the current per-parcel charges would be approximately $70 to $100 per year. The Department of Public Works - Special Districts (Department) therefore initiated a Proposition 218 process to ask property owners whether they would approve increased annual property-related service charges to provide additional funding for road maintenance and dirt road grading services.
This is not the first time increased charges for road maintenance and dirt grading services have been presented to property owners in these Zones. On December 19, 2017 (Item No. 93), the Board of Supervisors considered the results of prior mailed ballot elections for proposed service charge increases in County Service Area 70, Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights), Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa), and Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa). Those prior proposed increases did not receive the required majority approval from property owners. At that time, the Board Agenda Item noted that, because the elections were unsuccessful, the affected zones would not have sufficient revenue to provide the intended level of road maintenance as approved when the districts were formed, and that staff would consider various alternatives regarding the level of service provided within each district and notify property owners accordingly.
In 2025, the Department again contacted property owners within the Zones to discuss existing service levels and the need for additional funding. Following those meetings, the Department mailed a written notice of public hearing on February 6, 2026, to the record owner of each identified parcel subject to the proposed adjusted charge, as required by Proposition 218. The notice identified the proposed charge for each Zone, the basis for calculating the charge, the reason for the charge, and the date, time, and location of the public hearing.
On March 24, 2026 (Item No. 66), the Board of Supervisors conducted the public hearing to hear and consider all protests against the proposed property-related service charge adjustments. After the close of the public hearing and the count of all written protests received, the Board determined that no majority protest existed for Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain), Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights), Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa West), and Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa East). The Board then adopted Resolution Nos. 2026-29 through 2026-32 authorizing a mailed ballot election of property owners within those Zones, pursuant to Proposition 218 and California Constitution, Article XIII D, section 6(c), to consider the proposed service charge adjustments effective 2026-27.
The ballots were mailed by an independent election provider on May 11, 2026, and were required to be received by the official election date of June 6, 2026. The certified election results are as follows:
• County Service Area 70, Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain): Approved, with 335 votes in favor (51.9%) and 310 votes opposed.
• County Service Area 70, Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights): Not approved, with 125 votes in favor (45.1%) and 152 votes opposed. The ballots received did not receive the required majority approval vote.
• County Service Area 70, Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa West): Not approved, with 23 votes in favor (43.4%) and 30 votes opposed. The ballots received did not receive the required majority approval vote.
• County Service Area 70, Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa East): Not approved, with 20 votes in favor (28.6%) and 50 votes opposed. The ballots received did not receive the required majority approval vote.
Approval of the recommended actions will accept the certified election results for each Zone. Because the proposed increase for Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain) was approved, the recommended action will also adopt the corresponding resolution, authorize the adjusted annual property-related service charge of $75 per parcel per year beginning in 2026-27, allow for an annual inflationary adjustment of up to 3%, and direct the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to place the approved charge on the 2026-27 tax roll.
Because the proposed increases for Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights), Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa West), and Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa East) were not approved, those proposed adjusted charges will not be adopted or placed on the 2026-27 tax roll. The existing annual property-related service charges will remain in effect for those Zones unless and until lawfully changed by future Board action.
The approved increase for Zone R-19 (Copper Mountain) will provide additional funding to help restore and maintain road maintenance and dirt road grading services within that Zone. However, for Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights), Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa West), and Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa East), available service levels will continue to be limited by existing revenues unless additional funding is approved in the future.
Given that the proposed increases for Zone R-20 (Flamingo Heights), Zone R-26 (Yucca Mesa West), and Zone R-29 (Yucca Mesa East) were not approved, and that prior proposed increases for these Zones were also not approved in 2017, the Department will begin the necessary preliminary steps to present the matter to the Board to consider whether dissolution of the affected Zones is in the public interest, pursuant to the procedures set forth in the County Service Area Law. These steps include consulting with County Counsel regarding the procedural requirements and timeline. The Department will notify property owners, as appropriate, regarding future proceedings for each affected Zone and return to the Board with recommendations for its consideration, determination, and approval.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 17, 2026; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Franciliza Zyss, Chief Deputy, 382-3176) on May 29, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on June 5, 2026.