FALLBROOK — During the early morning hours before the day’s heat set in, a handful of East Fallbrook residents spent summer weekends filling more than 100 potholes along nearly six miles of road that have fallen into disrepair after decades without adequate maintenance.
Unlike other roads maintained by the county, the 5.77-mile stretch comprising Sumac, Wilt and Sage roads is part of a permanent road division, or PRD, that includes more than 350 properties.
Through the PRD, which collects a special assessment from each property owner, owners pay the county — or another third party — to perform road maintenance.
“Ultimate responsibility for maintenance of the roads in a PRD remains with the private property owners and they may choose to have work performed by someone other than the county at any time,” said Donna Durckel, communications officer for the county’s Land Use and Environment Group.
According to the county, the PRD was originally classified as a county service area from its inception in 1968 until 2000. It has collected the same ad valorem tax revenue to pay for road maintenance, but that revenue is no longer sufficient to meet the roads’ current repair needs, estimated at about $6.8 million.
In addition to the potholes along the nearly six miles of aging roads, the area has 43 culverts, many of which are also severely deteriorated.
A portion of Sage Road was closed for a year after a culvert collapsed several years ago, raising concerns among residents about fire evacuation routes.
In response to the needed repairs, the county has proposed a special election in November asking property owners whether to raise the current annual assessment to as much as $1,786 per developed parcel and $893 per undeveloped parcel. The Board of Supervisors approved the special tax election June 24.
According to the ballot measure language, the tax could be adjusted annually by up to 5% based on the Los Angeles Construction Cost Index or a comparable Southern California index. It would remain in effect until modified or dissolved by law.
The measure requires approval from two-thirds of voters. If it fails, the PRD will be dissolved, ending the county’s involvement in road maintenance and returning full responsibility to property owners.
“You guys got a private road. You own it,” said Supervisor Jim Desmond, who represents District 5, including Fallbrook.
Like many of his neighbors, Steve Shrewsbury did not know he lived within the PRD when he moved to the area nearly a decade ago. Shrewsbury said the county began collecting the assessment only about five years later.
According to residents, the county contacted PRD property owners in 2021 and asked them to vote for an assessment capped at $150 or dissolve the district. Property owners ultimately approved the assessment.
“For 54 years, they didn’t even bother to collect the assessment,” Shrewsbury said. “They knew they didn’t have enough revenue to maintain the roads let alone to repair the damage, but they did nothing about it. That is a big issue for many people.”
A more reasonable increase for property owners in the PRD would average between $400 and $500, he said.
While Shrewsbury said he understands the need for a higher assessment to maintain the roads, he blames the county for mishandling its collection over the past several decades.
“It’s not our fault that they didn’t collect our money,” he said. “They shouldn’t expect us to make up for 54 years of lost revenue.”
Over the summer, Shrewsbury, acting through Citizens for Sustainable PRDs and Roads, sued the county. He also created a website under the organization’s name at csprd.com to help his neighbors understand the ballot measure and its potential effects.
Susie Pusch, one of the residents filling potholes, said the issue has caused friction among neighbors over whether to approve such a steep tax increase.
“Many of our neighbors are retirees living on fixed incomes. Others simply cannot absorb another unexpected tax, and dissolving the PRD doesn’t magically erase six miles of deteriorating roads or 43 aging culverts,” she said. “It simply shifts uncertainty onto homeowners who never knew they had accepted this responsibility in the first place.”
Pusch and Shrewsbury also expressed frustration over what they described as additional road damage caused by heavy trucks and equipment used during a San Diego County Water Authority project.
“We noticed additional damage … we were told the roads were already in poor condition,” Pusch said.
The Water Authority project, which serves a system providing water to 3.3 million San Diego County residents, does not directly benefit PRD residents, adding to their frustration over the project and the damage they said it left behind.
According to county staff, the county spent more than $500,000 repairing culverts along the roads over the past three years.
County staff has scheduled a community event for PRD residents to learn more about the tax measure and ask questions before the election. The event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 16 at the cul-de-sac on Pala Road, past Sage Road and Mike’s Flowers.
