The town of Discovery Bay is urging registered voters in Lighting and Landscape District (LLD) No. 8, better known as Discovery Bay proper, to vote yes on the appropriations measure that has arrived in their mailboxes.

The ballot measure, if approved by voters, said Landscape Facilities Manager Dave Reed, would not impose any new taxes or additional taxes on the residents of Discovery Bay. What it would do, he said, is increase the appropriations limit that the town can receive in reimbursements from the county for LLD No. 8 from the current $600,000 ceiling per year to a new maximum of $715,000.

According to Reed, the $600,000 ceiling was set and approved by voters for fiscal years 2000-01 through 2003-04 while LLD No. 8 was still under county control and that the ceiling has not seen an increase since. The maintenance responsibilities were transferred to Discovery Bay's Community Services District in 2003.

At that time, said Reed, the responsibility was new to the town, and the appropriations limit was not clarified in the transfer process. In order to bring the appropriations limit current, the town is bringing this ballot measure to the voters.

If passed, the appropriations limit would increase to $715,000 and would adjust for changes in the cost of living and population of the LLD. The increase would be effective for the fiscal years of 2004-05 through 2007-08.

If the measure doesn't pass, the appropriations limit as it stands would impact the current and future landscape maintenance and capital improvement projects for Discovery Bay proper.

Reed said that postcards notifying residents of the ballot and the mail-in ballots themselves should have already been mailed to each registered voter in LLD No. 8 and must be returned to the county elections office no later than Aug. 28.

For more information on the appropriations measure, Reed can be reached at 634-1131.