LLAD 2025 Public Hearing Notice

Why did I receive this information?

Existing Street Lighting and Landscape Assessment District No. 1983-1 (LLAD No. 1983-1) for the Town of Danville (Town) provides funding for the maintenance and operations of the Town’s parks, landscaping, streetlighting, and community facilities through annual assessments placed on your property tax bill. The current assessments for LLAD No. 1983-1 do not include an annual escalator and the assessments have not changed since 2003. Since Fiscal Year 2003/04, the LLAD No. 1983-1 assessment revenue has experienced an increase of just 3% compared to a 78% increase in expenditures during the same period. A significant portion of the increased expenditures is attributable to utility costs that are largely outside of the Town’s control: water and electricity costs are now approximately $1.1 million higher per year as compared to Fiscal Year 2003/04. Despite proactive steps taken by the Town to manage water and electricity usage, the budget deficit is expected to continue and the increasing funding shortfall for LLAD No. 1983-1 is unsustainable.

To address the increasing funding shortfall and position the Town on solid financial standing for the long term, the Town is proposing to replace existing LLAD No. 1983-1 with the formation of new Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District No. 2025-1 (LLAD No. 2025-1) commencing with the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025/26. The current LLAD No. 1983-1 annual assessments for a single-family home range from $108 ($9 per month) to $305.80 ($25.48 per month). The proposed LLAD No. 2025-1 annual assessments for a single-family home range from $219.50 ($18.29 per month) to $329.26 ($27.44 per month) based on the special benefits conferred on property by parks, landscaping, streetlighting, and community facility improvements operated and maintained by the Town.

A notice and ballot have been mailed to the record owner of all assessable properties within the Town. If a majority of property owners returning a ballot do not oppose the formation of LLAD No. 2025-1, weighted by proposed assessment, there will be additional funding for the Town to continue the current level of maintenance services for parks, landscaping, streetlighting, and community facilities that will preserve property values within the Town.

Why are Landscaping and Lighting Assessment Districts important?

Landscaping and Lighting Assessment Districts (LLADs) play an important role for communities throughout the State of California. They provide annual revenue for the operations and maintenance of community facilities, landscaping, streetlighting, parks, trails, and open space areas. Because of this, the financial sustainability of LLADs is critical in helping keep our communities attractive and safe.

The Town’s community parks and facilities attract property owners and residents from the entire Town because they offer a wide variety of amenities and recreational opportunities, including sports fields, play courts, aquatic facilities, play fields, trails, tot lots, picnic areas, and space for public events. Neighborhood parks increase aesthetic appeal for nearby properties, provide environmental and health benefits, serve as community gathering places, and produce a healthier and overall improved community image.

Adequately lit streets support safer neighborhoods by increasing nighttime visibility, improving traffic circulation, reducing criminal activity and property-related crimes, and enhancing desirability of property through association with streetlighting improvements. Properly maintained landscaping increases aesthetic appeal to properties, enhancing quality of life through well-maintained green space and landscaped areas and providing environmental enhancements through improved erosion control, dust and debris control, and fire prevention.

How is the annual assessment for each parcel determined?

Assessments are proposed for parcels within the Town that receive direct and special benefit from the maintenance of improvements described at left. The amount of each LLAD No. 2025-1 assessment varies based upon the proportional special benefit received by each parcel to be assessed and calculated using the following parcel characteristics:

• Land use type (single-family, condominiums, multi-family, non-residential properties, and public schools). 
• Proximity to improvements. 
• Building square footage and parcel area for developed non-residential property. 
• Parcel area for assessable undeveloped property. 
• Residential units per parcel for developed multi-family properties. 

Due to the varying degrees of special benefit associated with each improvement type, four (4) Benefit Zones have been created for LLAD No. 2025-1. These Benefit Zones are necessary to properly apportion special benefits to property within the Town and accurately track the operation and maintenance costs for each improvement type. The Benefit Zones are described as follows: 

• Benefit Zone A (Major Roadway Landscaping) – Includes the properties shown within Benefit Zone A in the Assessment Diagram, which benefit from landscaping located along the Town’s major roadways. 
• Benefit Zone B (Major Roadway Landscaping) – Includes the properties shown within Benefit Zone B in the Assessment Diagram, which benefit from landscaping located along the Town’s major roadways plus enhanced landscaping located along the Camino Tassajara corridor. 
• Benefit Zone C (Streetlighting) – Includes all properties within the Town.
• Benefit Zone D (Parks and Community Facilities) – Includes all properties within the Town.

How much will my parcel be assessed?

The Fiscal Year 2025/26 maximum assessment rates for each land use type are shown on the Maximum Assessment Rates page. Assessable properties in the Town will either pay a Benefit Zone A or Benefit Zone B assessment for landscaping located along the Town’s major roadways based on location of property as shown in the Assessment Diagram. All assessable properties within the Town will pay a Benefit Zone C assessment for streetlighting located along the Town’s major roadways and a Benefit Zone D assessment for Town-maintained community parks and facilities. Properties located on public streets and in close proximity to public streetlights will pay an additional local streetlighting component for Benefit Zone C. Properties located within a ½-mile radius from a Town-maintained park will pay an additional neighborhood parks component for Benefit Zone D.

The total maximum annual assessment for each property is calculated as the sum of the Benefit Zone A or Benefit Zone B assessment, Benefit Zone C assessment, and Benefit Zone D assessment. The current LLAD No. 1983-1 and proposed LLAD No. 2025-1 maximum assessments for your parcel are shown on the enclosed ballot.