Dublin street-lighting levy continues for two existing districts in 2026-27

Dublin City Council ordered the fiscal 2026-27 levy for the city’s two existing street-lighting maintenance districts on July 21, keeping the current district structure in place after property owners rejected a proposed citywide consolidation.

The council approved the engineer’s reports, confirmed the district diagrams and assessments, ordered the levy for Street Lighting Maintenance Districts 1983-1 and 1999-1, and approved a related budget change, according to the City of Dublin’s meeting recap.

What the council approved

The action continues SLMD 1983-1 and SLMD 1999-1 for fiscal year 2026-27. It did not adopt the proposed Street Lighting Assessment District 2026-1, which would have replaced the two existing districts with a single citywide assessment district, excluding Camp Parks and The Boulevard.

The existing districts fund operation and maintenance of public street lighting through annual assessments collected with property taxes. The council’s action does not establish that assessments will increase in fiscal 2026-27.

City documents identify maximum annual assessments for a single-family home of $19.34 in SLMD 1983-1 and $82.68 in SLMD 1999-1. The city separately states that the actual current levy for a single-family home in SLMD 1999-1 was $47.80.

Why the consolidation failed

The proposed SLAD 2026-1 went through a Proposition 218 property-owner ballot process. Unlike a general-election ballot, the returned ballots were weighted according to each property’s proposed financial obligation—essentially one vote per dollar of assessment.

Property owners returned ballots by the June 16 public hearing, and the city tabulated them June 17. The proposed district failed with 55.8% of the weighted vote opposed and 44.2% supporting it, the city reports. Because opposition exceeded support, SLMD 1983-1 and SLMD 1999-1 remain in place.

Who remains covered

Most Dublin properties are in one of the two existing street-lighting maintenance districts. The city’s explainer identifies approximately 13,000 parcels—about 55% of the city—in SLMD 1983-1 and approximately 8,300 parcels—about 35%—in SLMD 1999-1.

Camp Parks is outside the city’s public street-lighting service area. The Boulevard neighborhood is also treated separately, with public street lighting funded through Community Facilities District No. 2017-1.

The failed proposal concerned funding for operation and maintenance of the existing street-lighting system. It was not an adopted plan to replace all streetlights or provide decorative lighting citywide.

Funding pressure in the older district

The City of Dublin reports that SLMD 1983-1 has an annual operating deficit of approximately $150,000. City materials say the district’s assessment maximum has not kept pace with rising energy and maintenance costs, while Pacific Gas and Electric rates have increased substantially over the same period.

The city says reserves will be used to cover the shortfall while they remain available. If the gap continues, Dublin projects that its General Fund may need to support the district beginning in fiscal year 2027-28 to maintain current service levels.

That projection is not a final appropriation or a confirmed service reduction. Future city budget decisions will determine how the funding gap is handled.

For property owners, the immediate result is that the two existing lighting districts remain in place for fiscal 2026-27, with assessments continuing through the property-tax system. For taxpayers more broadly, the unresolved deficit could create a future demand on General Fund resources that otherwise could be available for infrastructure, parks, public safety, or other city services.

Sources

• Dublin City Council July 21 meeting recap