Napa Berryessa Resort Improvement District seeks special‑tax ballot to address operating deficits

The Napa Berryessa Resort Improvement District (NBRID) told the Napa County Board of Supervisors June 17 that the district is running annual operating deficits and will pursue a local special‑tax ballot to stabilize finances.

Chris Silk, district engineer for Napa Berryessa Resort Improvement District, briefed the board during special‑district hearings on the district’s FY25‑26 recommended budget ($3,074,081) and explained that revenues have not recovered to pre‑fire levels because many homes remain unreconstructed and commercial resort activity that would generate fee revenue has not resumed.

Silk said the district needs to establish a special tax, modeled on a neighboring Lake Berryessa special‑tax district, to supplement user rate revenue and achieve a balanced budget. "We will be bringing the special ballot for a special election… It's a ballot measure that seeks to adopt a special tax similar to LBRID," Silk said. He explained that achieving a balanced budget is also a prerequisite to applying for state funding for water and wastewater capital improvements.

Silk told the board that without additional local taxing authority, the district’s deficits will continue and hamper efforts to secure outside grants and loans. "Before we can submit a financial package, our CAFR has to show a balanced budget or else our application will be paused," he said.

The public hearing was otherwise procedural; staff scheduled the district’s recommended budget to return on the June 24 consent calendar. District representatives said they would proceed with legal and election planning for a future ballot measure and continue to discuss rate and special tax options with county counsel and counsel for the district.