The City is responsible for the maintenance activities in all the zones.

At the time of the creation (formation) of each zone, a maximum allowable assessment was established. The maximum assessment was based on the maintenance cost projections to cover the landscaping and related services and amenities within each zone. Also at the time of formation, the maximum allowable assessment included an annual escalation factor to keep up with future inflation. The escalation factor is the lesser: 3% or the annual average of the Consumer Price Index (CPI - Urban Consumers for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward Area). What this means, is that each year, the lesser of 3% or the CPI is applied to the maximum assessment from the previous year, establishing a new or "adjusted" maximum assessment.  

Many of the zones (27 out of 41 or 66%) have reached their maximum assessment rates and either are or will be experiencing a budget shortfall. If no action is taken to increase the maximum assessment (see Prop 218 section), services and maintenance within the respective zone may be reduced to ensure a balance budget. Please review the most recent Engineer's Report for the most up-to-date zone budgets. 

Assessment revenues are utilized to cover the following:

• Personnel: wages and benefits for employees and/or contractor costs. 
• Materials: all supplies required to maintain the zone (i.e. soil, rocks, mulch, plants, fertilizer, pre-emergents, pesticides, etc.)
• Equipment: on-going maintenance and future purchases (i.e. mowers, trimmers, playgrounds, etc.). 
• Utilities: water, electricity, and sewer services. 

An Engineer's Report is a document prepared annually by the City under the Requirements of the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972. The annual Engineer's Report provides details on the improvements that are maintained, the boundaries, and the estimated budget for each zone. In order to levy assessments on properties, the City must have the Engineer's Report finalized and approved by early August of each year. 

The Engineer's Reports from the previous five years are available below: 

Fiscal Year 2023-24

Fiscal Year 2022-23

Fiscal Year 2021-22

Fiscal Year 2020-21

Fiscal Year 2019-20

Fiscal Year 2018-19

The LMD assessment are subject to Article XIII D of the California Constitution (commonly known as Proposition 218). In November 1996, California voters passed Prop 218 which requires property owner approval for assessment increases that exceed the district's adjusted maximum assessment for that year.  

In the event that maintenance costs exceed the maximum allowable assessment revenue, special balloting procedures may be implemented to provide zone property owners the opportunity to increase the maximum allowable assessment to ensure service levels are not reduced.

If special balloting is implemented, a mail-in ballot will be sent to all property owners within the zone prior to the City Council meeting where the item will be considered. If there is not a majority protest, the City Council has the authority to adopt the proposed changes. However, if there is a majority protest the ballot will fail and the recommended changes will not be implemented.  

A majority protest is defined as: If, upon the conclusion of the Public Hearing, valid ballots submitted in opposition to the proposed assessment increase exceed valid ballots submitted in favor of the proposed assessment increase. In tabulating the ballots, each ballot shall be weighted by the amount of the proposed assessment (simplified: one vote for every $1 of assessment).  

The City has developed guidelines for the use of a petition to gauge the interest of an increased assessment, prior to initiating a formal Prop 218 ballot proceeding. The complete process for implementing a formal property owner ballot process may be found here.      

For further information regarding Prop 218, please review the California Legislative Information.  

Please click here and type your address to see if your property is within a zone boundary.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Parks and Recreation Department or submit a service request online.  

Parks and Recreation Department:

333 Civic Center Plaza

Tracy, CA 95376

(209) 831-6200

parks@cityoftracy.org