Oak Hills Parks Funding: Measure V Proposes $82 Annual Parcel Tax for North County Recreation District

OAK HILLS / NORTH MONTEREY COUNTY — October 30, 2026. Oak Hills residents have a local parks funding proposal to consider ahead of the November 3, 2026 election. Measure V, proposed by the North County Recreation and Park District, would levy a special tax of $82 per parcel per year, with the district estimating approximately $300,000 in annual revenue. Monterey County’s official election information says the measure requires two-thirds voter approval. It has not been approved or defeated as of this report.

The distinction matters because “Oak Hills” also names a separate county service-area district responsible for certain neighborhood streetlights, drainage and open space. The proposed parks tax is not the same as the county’s previously discussed CSA 45 assessment review. The two districts have different legal boundaries, budgets and governing boards.

What would Measure V fund?

The official Monterey County list of local measures describes the proposed uses as expanding the community senior center, keeping parks clean and safe, supporting recreational programs for youth and seniors, improving accessibility for people with disabilities, maintaining park restrooms and retaining staff to operate facilities. These are legally described purposes in the ballot measure; they are not evidence that a particular park has already been renovated.

The district operates its main recreation center from 11261 Crane Street in Castroville. It states that it maintains five neighborhood parks, a 10,000-square-foot recreation center, approximately two miles of hiking trails and 70 acres of open space. Its programming extends to several north-county communities and age groups. The district’s own About Us page names Oak Hills among the communities it serves.

Who would pay the $82?

The county’s ballot language proposes $82 annually per parcel, not $82 per resident, adult, child or visit to the park. That means it is structurally different from a fee charged to join a sports class. The precise taxpayer liability would depend on whether a parcel is inside the North County Recreation and Park District’s legal boundaries, and on the enacted legal text and any applicable exemptions or administration provisions.

Here is an important geographic caution: the district serves several communities and may provide contract programs outside its taxing boundaries. The fact that the district’s mission or brochures mention Prunedale or North County does not mean every home in an informal community boundary would be taxed. The district offers an official boundary map, and the Monterey County Local Agency Formation Commission has separately documented its jurisdiction. A property owner should check the parcel, not simply its ZIP code.

Why is this different from the Oak Hills streetlight problem?

Monterey County’s County Service Area 45 exists to finance designated local infrastructure such as street lighting and stormwater maintenance, with a separate open-space budget. The independent North County Recreation and Park District operates parks and programs over a wider service territory. An increase in one district’s assessments would not automatically fix the other district’s financial needs.

California58 has previously examined Oak Hills’ service funding and the committee appointed to advise county officials. Those are separate matters. Measure V does not authorize the recreation district to take over county drainage channels, change an Oak Hills homeowners association agreement or create a new city government.

What would passage mean for future projects?

If approved under the applicable election threshold, the measure would create a recurring local source of funds for the listed recreation purposes. The county’s ballot description says the levy is to continue until ended by voters, rather than automatically expiring after a set number of years. A recurring revenue source can support maintenance and planning, but the estimated $300,000 a year is not an audited receipt for fiscal 2026–27 and does not establish that every proposed improvement will be completed on a fixed schedule.

District officials would still need to adopt budgets, prioritize projects, manage facilities and publish required financial records. Residents can request budgets, meeting agendas and project lists from the district. Its transparency page provides links to public records, audits, compensation and board information.

What local residents should verify

For a particular Oak Hills property, the most useful checks are whether the parcel falls within the North County Recreation and Park District boundary, whether the tax applies to that parcel under the full measure text, and which facilities would be priorities in the next adopted budget. The district lists its office at 11261 Crane Street, Castroville, telephone (831) 633-3084. The Monterey County Elections page links the official full text and impartial analysis for Measure V.

Primary sources: County of Monterey — Measure V official ballot language and two-thirds approval threshold; North County Recreation and Park District — service area and facilities; District public records and financial transparency. Published October 30, 2026. This is neutral public-interest coverage, not an endorsement, a prediction of the result, or evidence the proposed tax is already in effect.

Send corrections supported by official documents to California58 Newsroom.

Featured image: illustrative park picnic table photographed by Josh Lemmon / Unsplash. It does not depict an Oak Hills or North County Recreation and Park District property, nor any completed Measure V project.

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