Landscape and Lighting Assessment Information

Funding for Maintenance of Community Parks, Streetscapes and Trails 

Residents of Elk Grove enjoy award-winning recreation facilities, including 100 parks, 1,017 acres of park and open space and 18 miles of trails. These facilities are constructed and maintained by Cosumnes Community Services District (Cosumnes CSD). 

Cosumnes CSD relies on different funding sources to plan, construct and maintain these facilities. Construction is generally funded through agreements with community developers, such as park impact fees. 

Maintenance of parks, streetscapes and trails is funded through assessments approved by a vote of property owners, known as Landscape and Lighting (L&L) assessments. Last year, L&L assessments generated approximately $14 million. Property tax revenues are not used for park construction or maintenance.

Benefit Zones and L&L Assessments

These landscape assessments are collected in 13 benefit zones (BZs) throughout the District to support the facilities in that zone. In addition, there are six “overlays” (smaller zones within the primary zones) in which subsets of property owners have approved an additional assessment to maintain or expand parks located in their neighborhoods. 

Each benefit zone has a unique assessment amount that reflects the number and size of its parks, trails and streetscapes, relative to the number of homes, apartments, and commercial properties in that zone.

Please review our annual engineer’s report for more information on how L&L assessment rates are calculated:

Map showing each benefit zone by color
2022-2023 L&L Summary of Benefit Zone Assessments

Proposition 218

California voters passed Proposition 218, the “Right to Vote on Taxes Act” in November 1996. This constitutional amendment protects taxpayers by limiting the methods by which local governments can create or increase taxes, fees and charges without taxpayer consent. Proposition 218 requires voter approval prior to imposition or increase of general taxes, assessments, and certain user fees.

Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972

The Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972 (PDF) (Streets & Highways §22500) allows local governmental agencies to form Landscape & Lighting (L&L) Maintenance Districts for the purpose of financing the costs and expenses of landscaping and lighting public areas. This act can be used by public agencies such as cities, counties, and special districts to fund services including, but not limited to, the installation and maintenance of landscaping, park amenities, general lighting, traffic lights, recreational areas, and public restrooms.