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Home > Desert Oracle Radio > Road fee increase advances for unincorporated areas; Landers decision delayed
Podcast: Desert Oracle Radio
Episode:

Road fee increase advances for unincorporated areas; Landers decision delayed
Category: Society & Culture
Duration: 00:00:00
Publish Date: 2026-03-25 14:22:29
Description:

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is advancing a proposal that would raise road maintenance fees in several Morongo Basin communities. The portion affecting Landers has been delayed.

The SBC Board voted Tuesday, March 24, to move forward with proposed increases for several county service area 70 road zones, including Yucca Mesa, Flamingo Heights, Copper Mountain, and parts of the greater Joshua Tree area.

County officials say current annual fees, ranging from about 15 to 35 dollars, have not changed in decades and no longer cover maintenance costs. As a result, some routine grading has already been suspended.

The proposed increases would fund only ongoing road work. It does not include new construction and would include annual adjustments of up to 3%.

If there is no majority protest, the proposal will move to a mail-in ballot, with the earliest possible vote expected in May 2026.

During the public hearing, resident Marvin Ellis raised concerns about the lack of notice and automatic increases.

“This is the first notification I’ve received… and I oppose an automatic increase.”

The Landers portion of the proposal, known as Zone R-15, did not proceed after Supervisor Jesse Armendarez abstained due to property ownership, Supervisor Dawn Rowe was absent, and Supervisor Paul Cook voted no when the item was considered. Cook later abstained during a subsequent vote, after the Landers item had already failed. The change will allow the proposal to be revisited at a future meeting.

If ultimately rejected, officials say the road districts could be dissolved, leaving property owners responsible for maintaining their own roads.

The post Road fee increase advances for unincorporated areas; Landers decision delayed appeared first on Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree.
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