In this Issue
Top Headlines
Bills to Address Residential Impact Fees
Assembly Member Renews Attack on Local Government Associations
CSAC News
Marin County Confronts Institutionalized Racism by Focusing on Equity
Mariposa County Hosting the 2020 NACo WIR Conference
NACo Achievement Awards: 50 Years of County Excellence
Policy Reports
Comments Requested on Three Tax Bills
Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Updates
Upcoming Webinar: Are you an “Innovator” in Stepping Up?
HCD Hosting Community Development Block Grants Management System Webinars
Meetings, Webinars,Training etc.
Do You Know? Inyo County
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CSAC officers and team members are enjoying a busy day of Federal Legislative visits focused on homelessness and resiliency while in Washington, DC for the NACo Legislative Conference through this weekend. Left to right, CSAC Immediate Past President and Humboldt County Supervisor Virginia Bass; Executive Director Graham Knaus; President and Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett; First Vice President and Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore; Legislative Representative Justin Garrett; and Second Vice President and Siskiyou County Supervisor Ed Valenzuela.
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Bills to Address Residential Impact Fees
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Residential development impact fees were the topic of a joint hearing of the Assembly Local Government and Housing and Community Development Committees, as well as the Senate Housing and Governance and Finance Committees in the State Capitol this week. The hearing came on the heels of the announcement of several bills seeking to limit the authority of local agencies to impose fees and requiring increased transparency and state oversight.
While housing developers have long sought legislative changes to shift the costs of the infrastructure improvements required by new development to taxpayers at-large, impact fees are a core component of counties’ ability to provide new residents with the infrastructure they need, including transportation, sanitation, public safety and health, libraries, and parks. As noted by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, limitations on local governments’ taxation authority appear to make counties and other agencies increasingly reliant on impact fees to pay for the costs associated with new development.
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Assembly Member Renews Attack on Local Government Associations
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CSAC opposes AB 2452 (Garcia, Christina), which would authorize the California State Auditor to conduct audits on associations of local agencies and school districts, including CSAC. The bill would do so by expanding the High-Risk Local Government Agency Audit Program, which was implemented in 2015, to allow the State Auditor to audit local governments. AB 2452 would allow for the State Auditor to get involved in the financials of private, non-profit organizations for the first time.
These continued attacks on local government associations, according to the author, come in response to a physical altercation at a conference of southern California city officials. The author has not explained how allowing government audits of private entities’ finances would discourage fistfights. The bill also does not extend the State Auditor’s authority to for-profit organizations that local agencies pay for services.
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Marin County Confronts Institutionalized Racism by Focusing on Equity
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CSAC thanks Marin County for this guest blog post and their efforts to improve equity in the county.
We have quite the national reputation in Marin County. Sometimes we’re playfully teased as a den of decadence and jeered for our prevailing liberal extremism. At the county government offices, we’ve heard it all. Good-natured ribbing aside, one of the worst hits to Marin County’s image is not funny at all.
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Mariposa County Hosting the 2020 NACo WIR Conference
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One of California's most beautiful settings in Mariposa County will play host to County colleagues from across the West. Spend a few days in Yosemite, May 13-15, and hear insightful speakers, attend informative workshops and network with your colleagues during the 2020 NACo Western Interstate Region (WIR) Annual Conference.
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NACo Achievement Awards: 50 Years of County Excellence
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Counties of all sizes are encouraged to apply for the 50th Anniversary of the National Association of Counties Achievement Awards. March 30 is your deadline to apply for these non-competitive awards. Showcase your County's expertise and innovation in categories ranging from Arts and Culture to Transportation or Emergency Management. Learn more about NACo Achievement Awards and submit your application here.
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Comments Requested on Three Tax Bills
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The Government, Finance and Administration Policy Committee requests feedback and comments on several tax-related bills of County interest.
SB 1072 (McGuire) – Transient Occupancy Tax Collection
AB 2013 (Irwin) – Property Tax on Post-Disaster Reconstructions
AB 1959 (Mayes) – Deferral of Property Tax Payments During Appeals
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Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Updates
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The Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health (CCJBH) recently released their 2019 CCJBH Annual Report. The report provides eighteen findings and recommendations specific to those with complex needs, including individuals in the juvenile justice system and those who are experience homelessness. In addition, CCJBH embarked on several new projects to provide additional insight on best practices to reduce incarceration, including recidivism. Project activities are described in the Project Update section of the report that also includes identified next steps for 2020.
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Upcoming Webinar: Are you an “Innovator” in Stepping Up?
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The Council of State Governments Justice Center is hosting a webinar, Are you an “Innovator” in Stepping Up? The webinar will be held Thursday, March 5 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm and will provide an overview of he recommended three-step approach for identifying mental illness in jails that is required to be a Stepping Up Innovator.
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HCD Hosting Community Development Block Grants Management System Webinars
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The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will be hosting two webinars on March 10 for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applicants and grantees on completing a budget and developing and describing project tasks and deliverables in its new CDBG Grants Management System.
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Inyo County derived its name from the Native American word for the mountains in its area. The meaning of the word inyo is “dwelling place of the great spirit.” Inyo county boasts both the highest (Mt. Whitney) and lowest (Badwater Basin, Death Valley) points in California. The difference between the two points is about 14,700 feet. While not visible from each other, both can be observed from the Panamint Range on the west side of Death Valley, above the Panamint Valley. Thus, Inyo County has the greatest elevation difference among all of the counties and county-equivalents in the contiguous United States.
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Click here to see the latest county and local government job postings.
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