REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing on Proposed Adjustment to Property Related Service Charge for County Service Area 70, Zone R-15 Landers
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of County Service Area 70, Zone R-15 Landers:
1. Conduct a public hearing, pursuant to Proposition 218, to hear and consider any protests against the proposed adjustment to property related service charge from $20 per parcel per year to an adjusted amount of $75 per parcel per year (with an annual inflationary adjustment of up to 3%), effective 2026-2027.
2. Determine if a majority protest exists to the proposed adjustment to property-related service charge for County Service Area 70, Zone R-15.
3. If determined that no majority protest for the proposed adjustment to property-related service charge exists, adopt Resolution for County Service Area 70, Zone R-15 Landers that:
a. Authorizes a mailed-ballot voter election, pursuant to Proposition 218, of property owners within this zone, regarding the proposed adjustment from $20 to $75 per parcel per year, with an annual adjustment of up to 3%, effective 2026-27.
b. Sets July 3, 2026, or any day thereafter, as the election date.
c. Directs the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to place the charge on the 2026-27 tax roll, only if the mailed ballot voter election is approved.
4. Direct the Department of Public Works - Special Districts to begin procedures to dissolve County Service Area 70, Zone R-15 Landers, if determined that a majority protest exists.
(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 this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The property-related service charge adjustment listed in Recommendation No. 1 for County Service Area 70, Zone R-15 (Landers) (Zone) is projected to generate approximately $260,175 in 2026-27, from the current $69,380 in revenue, for the cost of providing road maintenance and dirt road grading services, if approved. This amount includes an adjustment in revenue of approximately $190,795, if the proposed service charge adjustment is approved by the property owners of the Zone.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Zone was formed in 1984 to provide road maintenance and direct road grading services for approximately 164 miles of dirt roads in the Landers area. When it was formed, a $20 per parcel annual service charge was established. However, there was no inflationary factor built into the service charge and, therefore, the annual charges have remained unchanged for 42 years. If an inflationary factor of 3% had been included, the per parcel charge would currently be approximately $75 per year. With the annual cost of inflation over the past 42 years, the lack of corresponding adjustment in revenue has resulted in reduced service being provided to the Zone, further degrading the road surface. Without immediate action to adjust the annual service charge, the Zone’s long-term sustainability and solvency is threatened. The adjusted service charge will generate enough revenue to restore regular service to the Zone.
Property owners residing in the Zone were contacted by the Department of Public Works - Special District (Department) in 2025 to discuss the levels of service in their Zone. A Community town hall meeting was held on December 10, 2025, at the Joshua Tree Community Center, with over 55 attendees present, to discuss the cashflow issues and the sustainability of the Zone. Most of the attendees were in favor of the adjustment.
As a result of this community outreach and feedback, the Department recommends increasing the service charge to adequately fund operation and maintenance (O&M) activities necessary to restore and sustain the service levels requested by the community. The proposed adjustment also includes an annual inflationary adjustment of up to 3% to address future adjustments in O&M costs.
Pursuant to Proposition 218 requirements for proposed adjustments to property-related service charges, written notice was mailed on April 3, 2026, to the recorded owner of each identified parcel upon which the service charge is proposed for imposition. The notice included the amount of the charge proposed to be imposed upon each property, the basis upon which the amount of the proposed charge was calculated, the reason for the charge, and notice of the May 19, 2026, public hearing date, time, and location on the proposed property-related service charge.
The Board shall hear and consider any and all protests against the proposed adjustment to property-related service charge pursuant to Proposition 218. At the conclusion of the public hearing, if the Board determines that written protests against the proposed adjusted service charge are presented by a majority of owners of the identified parcels, then the Board shall determine that a majority protest exists. Should this occur, the adjusted service charge shall not be imposed, and the proceedings will terminate. In such circumstances, the Department will then begin procedures for the Zone dissolution, pursuant to Recommendation No. 4, as anticipated future costs and current financing will make the Zone insolvent. If dissolved, the responsibility to maintain the road and perform services reverts to the property owners. If the Board determines that a majority protest does not exist, then the Board may proceed, pursuant to Proposition 218 and California Constitution Article XIII D, § 6(c), by authorizing a mailed ballot election of property owners within the Zone for the proposed adjustment to the property-related service charge. The election for the adjusted service charge shall be conducted not less than 45 days after the closure of the public hearing.
If the Board determines that no majority protest for the proposed adjusted property-related service charge exists, Recommendation No. 3 adopts a Resolution authorizing a mailed ballot election, pursuant to Proposition 218, regarding the proposed property-related service charge and establishes July 3, 2026, or any day thereafter, as the date of the mailed ballot election for voting by the property owners within the Zone. The election will be conducted by an independent election service provider. The Department will return to the Board to adopt the certified election results.
If a simple majority of the ballots returned from the property owners approve of the proposed adjusted service charge, the Department will recommend that the Board approve the adjustment and authorize placement of the new amount on the annual tax roll beginning in 2026-27. If a simple majority of the ballots returned are not in favor of the proposed adjustment, the Department will terminate the proceedings and recommend that the Board direct the Department to begin procedures for the Zone dissolution as the Department would have exhausted all available options to maintain the Zone’s solvency.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 2, 2026; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Franciliza Zyss, Chief Deputy, 382-3176) on April 10, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on April 29, 2026.