What is a Special District 

A Special District is an independent form of local government that is created, funded and overseen by its community residents to provide services and infrastructure.  They are formed whenever a community decides that a particular service is needed and wants it to be maintained via local controls.

Special Districts are governed by a Board of Directors that are elected by the community or appointed by one or more other locally elected governing bodies.  Special Districts are funded in different ways, most often by receiving a combination of enterprise (water, sewer, etc. fees) and non-enterprise (property and parcel taxes) revenues.

Local Area Formation Commission

Following the 2002 election, the City of Alameda Health Care District (District) was approved by the Alameda County Local Area Formation Commission the agency responsible for approving all jurisdictional changes involving the establishment, expansion, and of cities, towns, and most special Districts within the County.

City of Alameda Health Care District

The (District) was approved by the electorate of the City of Alameda in 2002 (link to statute).  The District was created to maintain acute care and emergency department services on the island of Alameda.  The District’s geographic boundaries are contiguous with the boundaries of the City of Alameda. It is funded by a voter approved flat parcel tax of $298/parcel charged to property owners in Alameda.  There are no provisions for an increase or decrease of this tax over time.