Supervisor Bonnie Gore Shares County Perspective During Hearing on California’s Housing Supply

Building more housing is a statewide priority, but the path to getting it built looks different in every county.  

Earlier today, Placer County Supervisor Bonnie Gore testified before the Little Hoover Commission during a hearing on expanding California’s housing supply. The commission is an independent state oversight organization that provides policy recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. 

The hearing was the second in the commission’s study on expanding the state’s housing supply. It focused on local government perspectives as well as the progress the state has made in increasing housing production and enforcing housing law. 

As one of five invited speakers, Supervisor Gore highlighted the meaningful impact of state investments in housing production and preservation, as well as targeted CEQA reforms that have reduced barriers to development. 

However, she also emphasized the challenges counties continue to face, particularly the complexity of state housing financing. 

“Many projects depend on numerous funding sources, each with separate application processes, timelines, underwriting standards, and compliance requirements,” Supervisor Gore testified. “Delays or changes in one funding source can unravel a project’s entire capital stack.”

Supervisor Gore also called for greater flexibility in state housing policies to reflect the different challenges facing urban, suburban, and rural counties. Addressing proposals to reduce or eliminate development impact fees, she emphasized that many counties rely on these fees to fund essential infrastructure needed to support new housing. 

“Development impact fees are vital to funding the infrastructure needed for healthy communities,” she told the commission. “Every home needs water and wastewater systems, roads, and other essential infrastructure.”

Learn more about the commission’s study on expanding California’s housing supply and Supervisor Gore’s testimony on the Little Hoover Commission’s website. A recording of the hearing will be posted shortly.