Registered voters in Whitehawk Ranch will soon decide on a proposed 37% increase in property taxes through a mail ballot election scheduled for April 14. The vote will determine whether Measure A, which seeks to raise annual parcel taxes for continued maintenance and services of the Whitehawk Ranch Community Services District (CSD), will be approved.
Measure A proposes raising the tax by $231 for residential parcels and $462 for commercial parcels, with an additional annual increase of 2.5%. This would replace the current tax of $617.50 per parcel, established in 2015. If passed, the 2026-2027 tax payments would rise to $848.50 for residential parcels and $1,079.50 for commercial ones. The measure requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.
The Plumas County Board of Supervisors authorized the special all-mail election following a resolution approved by the Whitehawk Ranch CSD board in October 2025. Election materials were mailed to all registered voters in the district on March 16. Voters can return ballots by mail (postmarked by April 14) or in person at the Plumas County Courthouse in Quincy by 8 p.m. on election day.
Funds generated from the tax increase would support maintenance, repairs, operations, and upgrades to various CSD assets, including the swimming pool, spa, tennis and pickleball courts, gazebo, community center, exercise and maintenance building, bocce ball and horseshoe courts, pond, equestrian center, parking areas, burn pile, RV storage, and approximately 100 acres of hiking trails and open space. While most roads are maintained by the Whitehawk Ranch Homeowners Association, the CSD is responsible for parking lots and certain gravel roads.
Operational costs for the fitness center, equestrian center, and RV lot are currently covered by user fees, a model the CSD board chose not to extend to the pool, burn pile, or tennis courts.
Plumas County Counsel Joshua Brechtel provided an impartial analysis, highlighting that California law permits special districts to levy parcel taxes with voter approval. He emphasized that funds collected through Measure A must be used exclusively for the maintenance, repairs, and upgrades specified in the measure, with spending decisions made solely by the CSD board.
Voters are encouraged to review election information available on the Plumas County elections website to understand the measure and the voting process.
