The District is a non-profit organization that serves and supports the agricultural community of western Yolo County. Revenue sources to support the District come from the following sources: 60% agricultural water sales, 26% property taxes, 14% other sources (municipal water sales, hydroelectric power sales, etc.). Due to frequent droughts, there have been many years when the lack of agricultural water sales left large deficits in the District’s budget, and cash reserves were depleted to cover the budget shortfalls and to address emergency infrastructure repairs.
The consequences of repeated budgetary shortfalls left the District without a sustainable capital reserve, increased deferred maintenance, and without resources to maintain and improve infrastructure. In order to stabilize the District’s ability to continue to provide services, a special assessment was proposed for parcels within the District’s service area which have the ability or the potential to receive District surface water supplies. Another objective of the assessment was to have all parcels that receive benefit from District activities contribute to the sustainability of the District. In order to ensure that parcels received benefit from the assessment if it passed, the assessment stipulated that the proceeds could only be used for infrastructure maintenance and improvements from the Capay Diversion Dam and downstream.
All property owners who would be affected by the special assessment were provided with ballots to approve or reject the proposed assessment. The ballots were counted on March 7, 2023, and the assessment was passed with 67% approval. The District looks forward to using assessment funds to address deferred maintenance and fortify delivery infrastructure.