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Board approves 0% tax‑sharing resolution for Russian River Flood Control annexation
Summary
The Board unanimously approved a resolution supporting a 0% property tax‑sharing agreement if LAFCO annexes Redwood Valley Water District into the Russian River Flood Control & Water Conservation Improvement District; presenters said the annexation is administrative and will not dissolve Redwood Valley or transfer operations.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution stating that existing property tax shares would not change if the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approves the annexation of the remainder of the Redwood Valley Water District service area into the Russian River Flood Control & Water Conservation Improvement District.
Elizabeth Salamone, general manager of the Russian River Flood Control District, and other district officials told the Board the annexation — covering roughly 9,500 acres of Redwood Valley not currently inside the flood control boundary — is primarily administrative. The district said the Redwood Valley Water District would remain the governing body for its water operations and that flood control would not assume Redwood’s management, operations or debt.
Presenters described the district’s unique water right allowing use of stored water from Lake Mendocino and said annexation would make the flood control boundary and the water‑right place of use coterminous in Redwood Valley. They noted the change would let Redwood use contracted flood control water anywhere within its service boundaries but would not create new water supplies or lift existing moratoria on new hookups.
Supervisor discussion was limited and complimentary to the presentation’s clarity. The Board voted by the button; the motion carried unanimously.
Next steps outlined by staff include finalizing the agreement language, submission of the application to LAFCO and a LAFCO public hearing scheduled for Sept. 14, 2026. The Board packet and the flood control district maintain project background documents and application materials on their websites for public review.
