LLAD: What is it all about? 

The LLAD is a special district that provides dedicated funding for streetlights, public facilities, parks, and landscaping in Danville. The Town has had an LLAD since 1983, ensuring the continued maintenance of these public spaces. Every Danville property owner contributes to this fund, which has not seen an increase in over 20 years.

The LLAD helps maintain Danville’s parks, trails, street lighting, and landscaped areas, ensuring that public spaces remain safe, clean, and visually appealing. These services enhance property values, improve community aesthetics, and contribute to the town’s high quality of life.

LLAD funds are strictly dedicated to maintaining and improving:

• Streetlighting for safety and visibility
• Public parks and open spaces
• Landscaped areas along roadways and medians
• Community facilities

LLAD funding supports the maintenance of public landscaping, streetlights, parks, and trails throughout Danville, including medians, roadside plantings, and open spaces. Specific areas and neighborhoods may have different levels of LLAD funding based on local assessments.

Costs for utilities, maintenance, and operations have risen significantly since 2003, while LLAD assessments have remained the same. Without an increase, the general fund has had to cover the shortfall, which is not sustainable.

The Town has implemented several cost-saving measures, including:

• Energy-efficient streetlights to lower electricity usage
• Water conservation efforts in parks and landscaped areas
• Prioritizing essential maintenance while deferring non-critical projects

Despite these efforts, rising costs have outpaced available funding.

Yes, LLAD funds can only be used for the maintenance and operation of landscaping, lighting, and related infrastructure as outlined in the assessment district’s formation documents. They cannot be diverted for other municipal expenses.

Before asking property owners for an increase, the Town took every possible step to hold down expenses. Some examples include: retrofitting 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 outstripped those efforts. The Town has been able to combine the use of additional general fund expenditures and LLAD reserves to stabilize rates to continue to provide services. However, District reserves are almost exhausted and increased demands on the Town’s general fund make this approach unsustainable moving forward.

The 5% increase applies to just one assessment scenario. The new rates vary based on the benefits each property receives, such as parks, streetlights, and landscaping. The updated assessment spreads costs more fairly across different property types, including single-family homes, apartments, and businesses. For single-family homes, the average increase will be $87 per year, with changes ranging from a $50 decrease to a $156 increase. Your ballot will include your specific current and proposed rate.

Since 2003, LLAD revenue has only increased by 3.1% (from $2.96 million to $3.05 million), while expenditures have risen by 78% (from $2.73 million to $4.85 million). This funding gap has primarily been covered by the Town’s general fund, but continuing this approach is not sustainable.

Annual assessments range from $166.50 to $305.80 per home, unchanged since 2003. However, maintenance costs have increased nearly 57% since then, while LLAD revenues have increased by just under 10%, putting more strain on the general fund. 

Rates vary, but most individual homeowners pay up to $305 per year, and the adjusted total fee would be up to $322 per year. The current rate and proposed adjusted rate will be on each property owner’s ballot.

The assessment rates that were approved in 2003 did not include an escalator. The proposed 2025 LLAD includes an annual escalator of up to 3% or Bay Area CPI, whichever is lower.

Not yet, but without an increase, the general fund will have to continue covering the shortfall. Since 2003, the Town's contribution to the LLAD fund has increased by 607%, which is not sustainable long-term.

If approved, the LLAD is expected to generate approximately $4.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025/26, which includes $1.4 million in new revenue to cover two-thirds of the current operating deficit.

Yes. While rising utility costs are the main factor, the assessment also considers maintenance and improvements to existing amenities, as well as any planned new ones.

While the LLAD appears on your property tax bill as "Danville STLT," it is a separate assessment specifically for maintaining streetlights, parks, public landscaping, and other community spaces. As a post-Prop 13 city, Danville receives, on average, only 7% of the property taxes collected by the County, meaning that for a property valued at $1,000,000, the Town’s general fund receives just $700 of the $10,000 property tax assessed. While some property tax revenue helps fund maintenance, it is not enough to cover the full cost, which is why the LLAD exists to provide dedicated funding for these essential services.

No, the LLAD assessment applies to all property owners in Danville and does not include a senior exemption. The LLAD funds essential services such as streetlight maintenance, parks, and public landscaping, which benefit residents of all ages by keeping public spaces safe, accessible, and well-maintained for the entire community.

Previously, apartment complexes were assessed based on acreage and parcel count, resulting in lower rates compared to condominiums and townhouses. Under the new LLAD, they will be assessed per unit, ensuring fairness among residential properties.

Commercial properties within the Town will be assessed for the LLAD based on factors such as frontage, land use, and benefit received from LLAD-funded services. The assessment formula ensures an equitable distribution of costs among all property types.

If the proposed increase is approved, the new LLAD assessment will be included in the next property tax cycle. Residents will see the updated rate reflected in their property tax bill for the following fiscal year.

April 4: Ballots mailed to property owners

May 20: Public hearing and ballot submission deadline

May 21: Ballot tabulation

June 3: Town Council announces results and may adopt the new LLAD if approved

August 10: Deadline to submit assessments for property tax placement

The ballot process will follow Proposition 218 requirements, meaning property owners will receive mail-in ballots the first week of April. Each vote is weighted based on the assessment amount assigned to the property. Ballots must be submitted by mail or in person before the deadline specified in the official notice, May 20 at 5 p.m. A public hearing about the LLAD will then be held at the Town Meeting Hall, learn more about the public hearing here.

A YES vote provides dedicated LLAD funding of approximately $1.4 million to keep pace with rising maintenance costs.

A NO vote means funding will continue to be drawn from general fund programs and services, potentially leading to cuts elsewhere.

You can call or text 925-575-6036, or email llad@danville.ca.gov with your questions. You can also review the preliminary engineer's report here.