Lancaster Pauses Several Prop 218 Assessment Hearings, Sewer Hearing Still Moving Forward
- Brian Lawrence
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Lancaster – Mayor R. Rex Parris says most of the City’s proposed Proposition 218 district increases will not move forward at this time, citing the financial pressure many local families are already facing.
In a statement to Lancaster residents, Parris said he will not place the Proposition 218 district elections on the upcoming City Council agenda, a move he said would “effectively stop the tax increases from being enacted.”
“Our residents are hurting,” Parris said in the statement. “Every month, families on fixed incomes face impossible choices; medicine or groceries, utilities or rent. The economic headwinds we’re all navigating are real, and a significant new tax increase will create genuine hardship for the very people who built this community.”
The announcement follows public concern over proposed updates to several City service districts, including drainage, landscaping, lighting, and sewer infrastructure. These districts are used to fund maintenance and infrastructure services that directly benefit certain properties, such as streetlights, stormwater systems, landscaped medians, and sewer lines.
“Our residents are hurting,”
According to the City of Lancaster’s Proposition 218 infrastructure maintenance update page, Mayor Parris will not open the public hearings for the Drainage Benefit Assessment District, Landscape Maintenance District, or Lighting Maintenance District at the upcoming July 14 City Council meeting. However, the Sewer District hearing is still expected to move forward.
Parris said the decision does not mean the City is abandoning the work those districts support. Instead, he described it as a pause to find another approach.
“This decision means no new revenue from the Proposition 218 District elections at this time,” Parris said. “But it doesn’t mean we’re abandoning the work these districts do. It means we’re pausing to find a smarter path forward.”
The City has said it plans to regroup, work with residents, and develop a more comprehensive public engagement effort before bringing any broader rate proposal back.
The one area still moving forward is sanitation. Parris said he supports continuing with the Sanitation District measure, but only at the minimum level needed to maintain the system.
“We’re holding this increase to the absolute minimum necessary to maintain a robust system,” Parris said. “Because a failed sanitation infrastructure puts every single resident’s health and safety at risk. That’s not a burden we can defer.”
Under California’s Proposition 218 process, property owners who receive a special benefit from certain public services may be asked to approve assessments that help pay for those services. Depending on the district, the process can involve mailed ballots or written protests from property owners.
The City previously approved resolutions of intent on May 26 to begin the Prop 218 process for four service areas: the Lancaster Drainage Benefit Assessment District, Lancaster Sewer District, Lancaster Landscape Maintenance District, and Lancaster Lighting Maintenance District.
Not every property is included in every district. Some parcels may be included in none, one, two, three, or all four service areas. The City has provided an interactive map for residents to check which districts apply to their property.
The City is also warning residents that some mailers and postcards may still list the July 14 public hearing date for the paused districts. According to the City, those materials were already printed and mailed before the decision was made to stop the drainage, landscaping, and lighting hearings from moving forward at this time.
“This is about being a government that listens and acts responsibly,”
For the Sewer District, the public hearing is still listed for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. inside the Lancaster City Hall Council Chambers, located at 44933 Fern Avenue.
Parris also acknowledged that the City Council still has the authority to override his decision, but said he believes council members share the same commitment to protecting Lancaster residents.
“This is about being a government that listens and acts responsibly,” Parris said, “not one that says ‘it’s necessary’ and hopes people absorb the cost.”
Residents with questions can contact the City at prop218@cityoflancasterca.gov.
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