Hold a Proposition 218 public hearing regarding the proposed levy of an increased assessment for road and landscaping services within the El Macero County Service Area (CSA), tabulate ballots and, if no majority protest exists, adopt a resolution approving the Engineer's Report, confirming the diagram and assessment forming the El Macero CSA Road Improvement and Landscaping Assessment District, and ordering the levy of the proposed assessment as set forth in the Engineer's Report and resolution, commencing in FY 2026-2027, subject to a maximum 3% annual inflationary adjustment in future years. (No general fund impact) (Webb/Nguyen)

The El Macero CSA was established on February 16, 1969, to provide sewer, water, and road-related services to the community. The CSA is governed by the Yolo County Board of Supervisors in accordance with County policies and procedures and is advised by the El Macero CSA Advisory Committee. Operations are funded through property taxes, fees and assessments levied for each service category. Periodically, the charges for CSA services are re-examined to determine whether the revenue being collected covers all the costs related to providing the service and builds adequate reserves if necessary.

Street/Road Assessment

The County provides a baseline level of road maintenance to all unincorporated County roads, including those within El Macero CSA, through its standard County-wide pavement management program. This baseline level of service is funded by general County revenues and represents the level of maintenance generally available to the public throughout unincorporated Yolo County.

The current annual street assessment of $180 has not been changed since 1994. With input from the El Macero CSA Advisory Committee, County staff issued a request for proposals and selected SCI Consulting Group ("SCI") to prepare an engineer’s report that shows an increase in the street assessment is necessary to maintain the community’s desired level of service for road maintenance and landscaping. The revenue analysis is outlined in the Engineer’s Report prepared by SCI (Attachment B), which indicates the annual street assessment would be increased to $467.62 per single family residential parcel per year, subject to a maximum 3% Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase each year thereafter.

Whenever the CSA plans to increase an existing assessment, it must conduct proceedings under Proposition 218 (California Constitution, article XIII D, section 4; Government Code section 53753). Proposition 218 imposes certain requirements before local entities can impose or increase assessments, such as the requirement that a notice of the proposed rate change and ballots be mailed to each property owner at least 45-days before a public hearing when the Board will consider adoption of the proposed rates, along with information on how a property owner can support or oppose the proposed increase.

On May 5, 2026, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, as the governing body of the El Macero CSA, authorized the initiation of the requisite Proposition 218 process to increase the street assessment and to set a future public hearing for final approval and further adopted a resolution with updated procedures for the assessment ballot proceedings (see Attachment C). A town hall was also held on May 14, 2026 with the El Macero CSA Advisory Committee meeting to provide the community with more information regarding the proposed assessment proceedings.  With the initiation of the proceedings, a mailing was sent on May 18, 2026 to all property owners within the El Macero CSA subject to the proposed street assessment increase with a notice outlining the proposed new rates, the Proposition 218 process, and timeline for property owners to oppose the increase (Attachment D). The mailing also included notice of this public hearing and a ballot for property owners to vote ”yes” or “no” for the assessment increase (Attachment E), with instructions on how and when to return the ballot. If a majority of the weighted ballots submitted vote in favor of the assessment are received (i.e., less than a majority of the returned ballots protest the proposed assessment), then the Board of Supervisors may move forward with approving the proposed changes, which would replace the existing $180 assessment and appear on the 2026/27 property tax bill.

County staff are proposing to create the El Macero Road Improvement & Landscaping Assessment District (the proposed “Assessment District,” or “assessment”) to replace the existing assessment and provide a dedicated and sustainable funding mechanism for pavement and landscaping maintenance and rehabilitation of the public roads within the El Macero CSA. The Assessment District is designed to fund road improvements at a level of service consistent with the community's expressed expectations, which exceed the maintenance frequency typically provided to unincorporated communities under the County's standard program.

Proposed El Macero Road Improvement & Landscaping Assessment District Fees

El Macero CSA Advisory Committee
SCI Consulting Group
Department of Community Services, Public Works Division
County Counsel