Assessment
Proposed Property Assessment for Flood Protection, Water Circulation, Drainage, and Bay Access
Community Meetings
6:30 p.m., Thursday, August 28
Delta Community Presbyterian Church, 1900 Willow Lake Road, Discovery Bay
6:30 p.m., Thursday, September 18
Delta Community Presbyterian Church, 1900 Willow Lake Road, Discovery Bay
Assessment Calculator
Use the Assessment Calculator to view the service areas, property factors, and benefit
zones specific to your property, along with your proposed annual assessment.
Resources
Assessment District Boundary Map
Questions? Need a Replacement Ballot?
Contact Us!
Hotline: (925) 627-0009
Email: info@rd800.org
What is the Problem to be Solved?
Reclamation District 800 is responsible for reducing flood risk and managing water quality and circulation, drainage, and bay access for 3,600 agricultural, urban, commercial, and industrial properties within the Byron Tract. These services are essential to public safety, quality of life, and property values in and around Discovery
Bay.
In fiscal year 2024-25, RD 800 received approximately $2 million in total revenues to provide these services. However, the true cost of service delivery is $3.1567 million per year, which means RD 800’s annual budget shortfall is $1.567 million.
RD 800 is funded by a combination of property tax revenues, an annual assessment on properties approved by property owners in 1999, state funding, and interest earnings. Property assessment rates have never increased, despite significant increases in RD 800’s operating costs during that 26-year period.
As a result, RD 800 does not have enough funding to adequately maintain and repair levees, minimize stagnation of water and aquatic weed growth in and around Discovery Bay (Willow Lake), provide for efficient drainage, and dredge bay hallways for navigation.
What is the Proposed Solution?
RD 800 is proposing an annual property assessment to adequately fund maintenance and capital projects for RD 800’s four service areas, helping to protect public safety, quality of life, and property values in and around Discovery Bay.
- The proposed assessment would raise $1.567 million in fiscal year 2026-27 and continue each year thereafter.
- The assessment could increase each year by the Consumer Prince Index, not to exceed 4% (whichever is less), and only by a vote of the Board of Trustees.
- As per state law, funds cannot be used for any other purpose.
What is the Cost to Property Owners?
By law, properties can only be assessed for the special benefit they receive from any of RD 800’s four service areas.
- The following chart summarizes the special benefit for each service area and the factors used to calculate individual property assessments.
- Properties are not assessed for services that do not provide special benefit to their properties.
- Not all properties benefit from all service areas, but most properties benefit from at least two.
| Service Area | Special Benefit | Factors Used to Calculate Proposed Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Flood Protection | Avoidance of flood damage to property and structures, and protection of land-based evacuation routes during a flood event (flood egress). Some properties only benefit from flood egress. | Land use type. Size of parcel. Structure type and square footage. Finished first floor depth. Whether the parcel benefits from flood egress. |
| Bay Access | Maintenance of navigational access to and from the Delta. There are 22 different zones of benefit (Bay Access Zones). | Property location (determines Bay Access Zone) |
| Water Quality | Prevention of water stagnation, minimizing aquatic weed growth, and providing irrigation water for some properties. There are 3 different zones of benefit (Water Quality Zones). | Property location (determines Water Quality Zone) |
| Drainage | Removal of rainfall runoff, irrigation tailwater, and levee seepage to prevent nuisance flooding and ponding of water. There are 3 zones of benefit (Drainage Zone). | Property location (determines Drainage Zone). Size of parcel. |
“Yes” or “No,” What Happens?
YES: New property assessments would begin in fall 2026 and appear on the property tax bill and continue every year thereafter. All assessment revenues will be used to adequately maintain and repair levees, minimize stagnation of water and aquatic weed growth in and around Discovery Bay (Willow Lake), provide for efficient drainage, and dredge bay hallways for navigation.
NO: 800’s budget deficit will continue to grow, leading to reductions in existing levels of service. Projects and maintenance will be deferred, leading to potential flood protection and drainage system failures, worsened water quality and circulation, and reduced access to bays. This could harm public safety, quality of life, and property values in and around Discovery Bay.
Learn More
Attend one of two community meetings (see info at top of page), and/or contact us!
Hotline: (925) 627-0009
Email: info@rd800.org