From the Town of Danville:
Danville property owners to vote on funding for parks, street lights, landscaping and other amenities.
DANVILLE, Calif. (March 19, 2025): The Danville Town Council has approved Resolution No. 22-2025, which initiates a vote on proposed adjustments to the Town’s Lighting and Landscape Assessment District (LLAD), which was last voted on and approved by property owners in 2003. With maintenance costs rising sharply over the last decade and no LLAD assessment increases for more than 20 years, property owners will have the opportunity to determine the future funding structure for parks, streetlights, and landscaped public spaces in Danville.
All property owners contribute to the LLAD, and original assessment structures did not include an escalator to address cost increases and additional facilities. Before asking property owners for an increase, the Town took every possible step to hold down expenses, including retro-fitting street lights from sodium vapor to LED, replacing landscaping that was too water intensive, and installing more sophisticated water management systems. However, recent increases from utility providers have impacted all property owners, including the Town, and outpaced those efforts. To address a growing funding gap, the Town will ask all property owners to vote on an adjustment through a ballot that will be mailed to each property owner the first week of April.
Proposed Assessment Changes
The LLAD is restricted by law to provide funding for the ongoing maintenance and operation of parks, street lighting, and landscaping. Under the proposal, single-family homeowners would see an average increase of $87 per year, though the actual change varies by property. Adjustments will range from a $50 reduction to a $150 increase, depending on the property location. Each property owner will receive a ballot specifying their current rate and proposed rate.
“The LLAD funds maintenance of parks, street lighting, and other amenities that contribute to the quality of life in Danville,” said Town Manager Joseph A. Calabrigo. “This vote allows property owners to decide whether the funding should be adjusted to reflect rising costs and avoid potential cuts to other services from the general fund.”
The proposed adjustment is based on findings from a detailed engineer’s report, which is required by law to separate general benefits to the public at large from the special benefits LLAD-funded amenities provide to the property owner. Assessments will be calculated using Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) to ensure proportionality. Single-family homes make up about 80% of assessable properties in Danville, and are assigned one EDU, while non-residential properties are assigned EDUs based on their land use type and level of benefit received from LLAD-funded services.
Additionally, the proposed LLAD updates how apartment complexes are assessed, moving from a parcel-based formula to a per-unit assessment, aligning them with condominiums and townhomes. These adjustments aim to create a more equitable distribution of costs while maintaining quality amenities and services for all.
Ballots will be mailed the first week of April, and the Town has developed several educational resources to explain the history and intent of the ballot initiative. A virtual Town Hall Meeting is being planned for early April, and the ballot period will close in May, with the results will be announced at a Town Council meeting in June.
Property owners can learn more about the LLAD and view the full engineer’s report HERE.
For more information, contact Jenn Starnes, Public Information Officer, at 925-314-3336 or
jstarnes@danville.ca.gov.
