Rialto adopts assessments for streetlights and landscape maintenance; staff recommends targeted increase for one zone

The Rialto City Council adopted multiple resolutions to approve engineers’ reports and to order the levy of assessments for three special districts that fund street lighting and landscape maintenance.

Public Works staff presented the Street Light District 1 (SLD1) report, noting the district covers about 3,750 street lights. Staff said maximum collections for SLD1 are estimated around $872,323 for the coming fiscal year while projected expenditures are approximately $1.4 million, producing a budget shortfall of roughly $535,771; historically the city has transferred funds from the general fund to cover past deficits.

For Landscape Maintenance District 1 (LMD1), staff described three zones (residential with and without trees; non-residential/multifamily) and budget challenges driven by labor and utility cost increases; however, the non-residential zone 3 was projected to be balanced this year. For Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District 2 (LLMD2), staff recommended deferring increases for most zones but proposed an increase of $0.08 per Equivalent Benefit Unit (EBU) for Zone 2 (generally non-residential parcels, commercial and industrial properties).

Council closed the public hearing after no public speakers requested to comment and then voted to adopt resolutions 8521, 8522 and 8523 ordering the levies for FY 2026–27.