When the Governor used his blue pencil before signing the 2009-10
budget, he drew a line right through the future of foster
youth by vetoing $80 million and his proposed 2010-11 budget
continues the cut.
CSAC is part of a broad coalition – including foster youth,
foster parents, providers, labor, social workers, and welfare
directors – that is advocating to restore the child welfare
services budget.
Sometimes things in government just don’t make sense. When you
look at the facts – the state pays nearly $43 million annually to
guard and provide life-sustaining medical care for 32 critically
debilitated state prison inmates – something seems out of whack.
That’s an average of $1.3 million in costs per person.
Most of these inmates are completely incapacitated: incapable of
independent movement or speech and with extremely limited
cognitive function. The public safety threat posed by this small
number of prisoners is virtually non-existent.
When most Californians think of land-use planning or
infrastructure, they think of their local city – the new
residential neighborhood being built or the condition of their
local streets.
Yet few people may realize the role that counties play in these
crucial areas. In fact, cities, counties and regions are
intricately linked in these arenas.
Okay, so maybe you aren’t so interested in an Algebra exercise,
but we were wondering just what it is that makes people think
that Assembly member Tony Mendoza’s AB 155 is a good idea?
The bill passed out of the Senate Local Government Committee this
afternoon with three “aye” votes from Senators DeSaulnier, Kehoe,
Price (Senators Cox and Aanestad voted “no”). Local
governments appeared in force to opposed the measure but, after
relatively little debate, AB 155 was sent off to the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer appeared before the Committee to
support AB 155,
County government provides a wide range of services to its
residents from public safety to health care to recycling
programs! Included in this long list of services is the
lesser known Land Conservation Act, also known as the Williamson
Act.
Simply put, the Williamson Act is the single most effective
agricultural land preservation program in California.
Enacted in 1965, this voluntary program provides lower
property taxes to agricultural landowners in exchange for their
contractual commitments with participating cities or counties to
keep their land in agricultural or open space uses for
State budget crisis and pressures to reduce prison costs and
population.
And the result? Counties, local law enforcement, and communities
are bracing for unknown impacts that could result from an influx
of prison inmates. Depending on outcomes of state budget
discussions and a case pending before the U.S.
April’s revenues, like the several months before it, beat budget
estimates, and the state didn’t have to pay out as much as they
thought they would either.
So far this fiscal year, the state’s General Fund (GF) has
collected a little over $60.3 billion, almost $2.3 billion more
than the budget accounted for (that’s edging toward 4% for you
math whizzes).
We’ve been reading daily about counties having to deal with
fiscal crises, but Sunday posed a new challenge for Imperial
County: dealing with the aftermath of the 7.2 quake that struck
near Mexicali. Centered just 40 miles from the
Imperial C
If you ever wonder about California ’s role in the National
Association of Counties (NACo), just check out the March 29
edition of County News, NACo’s regular newspaper. It reads like
a “Who’s Who” in California county government.
The edition featured a summary of the 2010 NACo Legislative
Conference and other recent political events in Washington , D.C.
April 1, 2010 is National Census Day, when all census forms
should be returned to the US Census Bureau. The federal
government relies on census data to determine the number of
congressional seats each state is entitled to and to allocate
roughly $400 billion dollars in federal funds for health care
programs, roads, and schools.
Nationally, about 52 percent of Americans who’ve received census
forms have mailed them back already, but according to the U.S.
“California Counties: 38 Million Served” – that’s been a message
that CSAC has been spreading for the past year. Every California
resident lives in a county. Our 58 counties are
California. The role that counties play in our every day lives is
immeasurable and complex; and it’s a role that few Californians
truly understand.
A key component to last week’s final action on the state budget
was the passage of
SB 71, a bill that provides for a sales tax exclusion for
“green technology” projects in California. SB 71, authored
by Senator Alex Padilla, and
championed by Governor Schwarzenegger, authorizes the
California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation
Financing Authority (CAEATFA) to approve projects for financ
The CSAC Board of Directors voted today to oppose Prop. 16, the
initiative that would limit local government’s ability to expand
local energy programs. While the board was presented with both
sides of the argument, their decision was relatively quick and
easy. CSAC’s Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy
Committee and Executive Committee had both already recommended an
“oppose” position. CSAC’s policy supports measures that
enhance the public power options available to local governments.
Prop. 16 does just the opposite.
With California’s budget deficit still numbering in the billions,
some are suggesting a different approach to solving the state’s
budget woes: taxing marijuana.
Several initiatives are currently in process, including a
ballot measure and a legislative proposal that would both
legalize and tax marijuana.
Today, Los Angeles County elections officials turn in a
count of verified signatures that will determine whether the
Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act appears on the November
2010 ballot for voter approval.
The CSAC Officers spent the afternoon with Chief Justice Ronald
George on Monday discussing issues of mutual interest between
courts and counties. Despite more than two decades of reforms
that separate court and county functions, there are ties that
still bind us together at the local level.
Our discussion with the Chief Justice and other court leaders
reminded me how important it is for counties – supervisors and
county executives especially – to actively nurture the
relationship with the local court.
We’re sure you’ve been searching high and low for the details on
last night’s wrap-up of the Eighth Extraordinary session and now
you won’t have to look any further. Check out the Budget
News section of our web site for the latest
CSAC Budget Action Bulletin, hot off the press. Er,
keyboard.
When President Obama signed the landmark health bill in
Washington, D.C. this morning, Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz
Kniss was present at the invitation of the White
House. Supervisor Kniss has been a strong advocate of
health-care reform at both the national and state level.
Governor Schwarzenegger, satisfied with actions by the
Legislature, signed ABX8 6 and ABX8 9, the two-bill package that
will bring significant change to how transportation is
funded. Proposition 42 is no more. The repeal of the
sales tax on gas, and thus Proposition 42, will be replaced by an
equivalent amount of increase in the per gallon gas
tax.
Just before the end of the deadline for action on the two-bill
package, the Legislature responded to the Governor’s
request to address two issues. One was to fix a technical
problem related to railroads and other diesel users to ensure
they w
The Senate heard the Governor’s ill-conceived trigger cut
proposals today in Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee
No. 3. After extensive public testimony, the Subcommittee voted
to reject the Governor’s proposals to completely eliminate
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), CalWORKs, and Transitional
Housing Program Plus (THP+) for former foster youth.
Before sharing a little data, I must recognize my CSAC colleague,
Lisa Currie, for her effective public testimony about her success
in moving from welfare to work.
