CSAC Bulletin Article

2022 CSAC Legislative Conference: Government Finance and Administration Policy Committee

The CSAC Government Finance & Administration (GFA) Policy Committee met on Thursday, April 22. Agenda topics included:

  • A panel discussion about the state appropriations limit and how it’s affecting this year’s budget debate.
  • A CPUC presentation about broadband technical assistance grants for local agencies.
  • A GO-Biz presentation about the Community Economic Resilience Fund.
  • A rundown of important legislation on the Brown Act and broadband.

The Committee kicked off with a panel on California’s budget surplus and how the State Appropriations Limit will dominate California’s budget decisions in the coming years. Jason Sisney from the Office of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Ann Hollingshead of the Legislative Analyst Office provided an overview of voter-approved initiatives and how these laws constrict spending decisions of California’s record-breaking surpluses.

Jonathan Lakritz from the CPUC followed that up with a presentation about the substantial technical assistance grants the agency will be making available for local agencies to do broadband planning and related activities. Those grants, funded out of $50 million from last year’s historic investment, should be available in the next few months.

CERF was up next, with Derek Kirk from GO-Biz providing an energetic assessment of the state’s progress implementing the program and encouraging counties to be intensively involved in their region’s effort, once they get going. The state is committing extraordinary funds to this effort at economic planning and development, with $600 million being included in last year’s budget for this program, to be spent over a period of years.

Legislative bills discussed included SB 1100, relating to disturbances during Brown Act meetings, and AB 1944 and AB 2449, both of which would allow public officials to attend Brown Act meetings remotely if certain requirements are met. Two broadband bills mentioned were AB 2258, which would add a local government official to the Middle Mile Advisory Committee, and AB 2748, which would strengthen the oversight and other aspects of DIVCA, the statewide digital service franchise system.

Presenter materials and presentations will be available online Monday for those who could not attend the conference in person. 

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