MAYOR PARRIS HALTS PROP 218 DISTRICT ELECTIONS, CITES ECONOMIC HARDSHIP FOR LANCASTER FAMILIES

LANCASTER, Calif. — Mayor R. Rex Parris announced Wednesday he will not place Proposition 218 District elections on the City Council agenda, halting proposed assessment hikes for landscape, lighting, drainage, and sewer maintenance.

“Our residents are hurting,” Parris said. “A significant new tax increase will create genuine hardship for the very people who built this community.”

Parris said the city will “pause to find a smarter path forward” rather than move ahead with new revenue from the districts. He will continue with a Sanitation District measure but keep any increase to the “absolute minimum necessary” to protect public health and safety.

The mayor noted the City Council retains the power to override his decision. Council voted to advance the Prop. 218 process. Parris was absent from that meeting.

Under state law, assessment increases require majority approval from affected property owners. With the item off the agenda, no ballots will be sent and rates will not change.