2021 CA Special District Jan-Feb

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TAKE ACTION

COVID-19 AND STATE BUDGET Special Districts Urge Equitable Access in State Budget

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t’s a new year, a new legislative session, and the same COVID-19 with many of the top issues of 2020 back on the agenda, including wildfires, climate, housing, and homelessness just to name a few. In anticipation of the work ahead, legislative leaders established several new committees, including the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies and Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management. On January 8, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his 2021-22 State Budget Proposal outlining his funding priorities for the year and setting in motion the Legislature’s budget process. In the meantime, legislators will continue introducing new legislation through the bill introduction deadline of February 19.

Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his $202.1 billion budget proposal for the 2021-22 fiscal year. While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic reverberated throughout the presentation, Governor Newsom sought to emphasize that the initiatives to be undertaken by his administration in the coming weeks and months were part-and-parcel with the state’s economic recovery. An overarching focus of Governor Newsom’s budget presentation was equity, demonstrated by investments in vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. Social and environmental justice was a common thread throughout the Governor’s proposals aimed at advancing the public’s health, promoting COVID-19 recovery and job creation, and funding climate-related infrastructure improvements to make communities more resilient. In response to the proposed State Budget, CSDA Chief Executive Officer Neil McCormick urged Governor Newsom to include special districts

TAKE ACTION SEASONS OF ADVOCACY: WINTER • Meet and Greets: Request a meet and greet with your State Legislators and members of Congress, prioritizing those who are newly elected. • eNewsletters and Social Media: Sign up for the eNewsletters of your newly elected State Legislators and members of Congress and follow their social media accounts. Invite them and their staff to follow your district’s social media and subscribe to your eNewsletter. • Grassroots Mobilization Survey: Update any new legislative relationships you have developed via the CSDA Grassroots Mobilization Survey at csda.net/take-action. • Meeting or tour: Set up a meeting or tour for your local news reporter or editor.

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and their more than 120,000 frontline workers in the state’s remaining $800 million in COVID-relief funding. McCormick stated, “Our fire protection, healthcare, water, sanitation, port, childcare, and other service providers have yet to receive the direct access to funding that other government agencies, as well as businesses and nonprofits, have received.” He continued, “CSDA is eager to resolve this oversight and looks forward to working with the Administration and State Legislature to ensure special district essential workers and the vulnerable communities they serve throughout California receive equitable access to these important relief funds.”

CSDA Requests Amendments to Draft Surplus Land Act Guidelines

Final guidelines for the Surplus Land Act (SLA) were released in January 2021 by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). These the final guidelines are published to hcd.ca.gov. Look for CSDA to update members via its Advocacy News blog at www.csda.net.

On January 8, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his 2021-22 State Budget Proposal outlining his funding priorities for the year and setting in motion the Legislature’s budget process. In the meantime, legislators will continue introducing new legislation through the bill introduction deadline of February 19.

California Special Districts • Jan-Feb 2021


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