$300 Million Property Tax to Fund Stormwater Infrastructure on the Ballot in Los Angeles County

The proposed property tax would double the county's stormwater capture capacity.

1 minute read

July 21, 2018, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Echo Park

Echo Park Lake is one of Los Angeles' most picturesque stormwater facilities. | Songquan Deng / Shutterstock

Sharon McNary reports on the details of a ballot initiative in Los Angeles County that will drastically increase the stormwater capture capacity in the region.

"Two-thirds of voters in the Los Angeles County Flood Control District (more on that below) need to say yes," according to McNary. "If that happens, then property owners would be charged a new tax of 2.5 cents each year for every square foot of land that sheds water."

The tax will fund stormwater capture and treatment projects in the 2,700-square-mile flood control district. "Los Angeles County already captures about one-fifth of the rain that falls in the L.A. Basin watershed. Money raised by the new tax — an estimated $300 million per year — would ultimately double the amount captured," adds McNary. The article includes a lot more detail about the scope of infrastructure proposed and the politics of stormwater in Los Angeles County. 

Wednesday, July 18, 2018 in LAist

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A swamp in South Carolina with tall pale trees and Spanish moss in the water.

Satanic Place Names

From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.

October 31 - The Daily Yonder

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

October 30 - South Dakota Searchlight