In Dougherty Valley, "Mello-Roos" is often used as a catch-all, but most of the extra charges on the tax bill are something else. A typical bill can carry a county service area charge, a geologic hazard abatement district assessment, a school parcel tax and, in parts of Windemere, a true Community Facilities District special tax.

Here is what each charge is, what the published figures say, and how to read the bill for a specific address.

What is County Service Area M-29?

CSA M-29 was formed in 1996 for Dougherty Valley. According to the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission, it funds services including law enforcement, parks, road and storm drain maintenance, the community center, the library, landscaping and streetlights. The City of San Ramon's own landscaping and lighting district excludes Dougherty Valley from two of its zones for this reason, because M-29 already covers those costs there. On the county's list of tax bill charges, it appears as "S/A M-29 DOUGHERY VALLEY," spelled that way on the list.

What is the Dougherty Valley GHAD?

A Geologic Hazard Abatement District funds the monitoring and repair of geologic hazards such as landslides. The Dougherty Valley GHAD covers about 2,767 acres, including Gale Ranch and Windemere, and the San Ramon City Council serves as its board. For fiscal year 2026-27, the assessment is $181.69 per residential unit, unchanged from the prior year, against a maximum of $250 per unit.

Is there Mello-Roos in Dougherty Valley?

In parts of it. Homes in the Windemere Ranch area can carry charges from two financing districts administered through ABAG: CFD No. 2004-2 (Windemere Ranch), which is a Mello-Roos district, and the Windemere Ranch Reassessment District. In July 2025, the finance authority directed surplus revenue toward redeeming bonds and reducing owners' special taxes and reassessments. The county lists both on the tax bill with a contact number for the district's administrator.

Not every Dougherty Valley home is in these districts, which is why the address matters more than the neighborhood name.

What about the school parcel tax?

San Ramon Valley Unified's Measure Q parcel tax is $144 per parcel, effective July 1, 2025 and expiring June 30, 2034, with exemptions available for qualifying seniors and SSI or SSDI recipients. It applies across the district, not only in Dougherty Valley.

How do you read the tax bill for a specific address?

  • Look up the parcel on the Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector's site and find the fixed charges section.
  • Match each line to its district. The county publishes a list of charge codes with contact phone numbers.
  • Call the number beside any charge you do not recognize. The county states that each district sets its own amount.
  • Ask the seller for the special tax notice required by Civil Code 1102.6b, which should show the maximum tax and when it ends.

For more on the city, see Living in San Ramon. For how a Mello-Roos notice works, my guide on checking what an address owes walks through the document line by line.

Frequently asked questions about Dougherty Valley special taxes

Does Dougherty Valley have Mello-Roos?

Parts of it do. Homes in the Windemere Ranch area can be in CFD No. 2004-2, a Mello-Roos district, and a separate reassessment district. Other charges on Dougherty Valley bills, such as CSA M-29 and the GHAD, are not Mello-Roos.

What is CSA M-29 on my San Ramon tax bill?

County Service Area M-29, formed in 1996 for Dougherty Valley, funds services including law enforcement, parks, road and storm drain maintenance, the library, landscaping and streetlights.

How much is the Dougherty Valley GHAD assessment?

For fiscal year 2026-27, $181.69 per residential unit, with a maximum of $250 per unit.

How much is the SRVUSD parcel tax?

Measure Q is $144 per parcel, effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2034, with exemptions for qualifying seniors and SSI or SSDI recipients.

How do I find out what a Dougherty Valley address pays?

Look up the parcel on the Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector's site, match each fixed charge to its district, and call the number listed beside it.

The Bottom Line on Dougherty Valley Special Taxes

Dougherty Valley tax bills carry several fixed charges, and only some of them are Mello-Roos. Pull the bill for the specific address, identify each line, and ask the seller for the special tax notice before you compare homes on price alone.

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Sources

Contra Costa LAFCO, agency directory, for CSA M-29. City of San Ramon, 2026-27 Dougherty Valley GHAD notice and GHAD page. ABAG, Windemere resolution 2025-006. SRVUSD, parcel tax information. Contra Costa County, levy phone list and Special Assessments.

Jaz Chand, Broker Associate | Homes With Accent
The Jaz Team at Merrill Signature Properties | DRE #01751823
Phone/Text: 925-250-9611 | Jaz@HomesWithAccent.com

General information only, not tax or legal advice. Special tax amounts vary by parcel and change each year. Confirm the charges on any address with the county tax bill and the levying district, and consult your own CPA where appropriate.