Three Districts That Leveled-Up!

In 1999, CSDA leaders formed the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF), a 501(c)(3) organization, to provide recognition and certification opportunities to special district officials and employees to enhance service to the public. It is dedicated to excellence in local government. To date, SDLF has designed and implemented the following programs: Certificate in Special District Governance, Essential Leadership Skills Certificate, Certified Special District Manager (CSDM), District Transparency Certificate of Excellence, and the District of Distinction Accreditation.

The Level-Up Challenge ran in 2022 and was created to encourage districts to earn the District of Distinction Accreditation for the first time or to achieve a higher level. This accreditation is designed as a way for districts to highlight their prudent fiscal practices along with other areas important to effectively operate and govern a special district. To achieve the District of Distinction Accreditation, special districts are required to submit their financial audits; policies and procedures; and proof of various trainings taken by the district’s directors and executive staff, as well as have a completed SDLF District Transparency Certificate of Excellence.

The different levels of accreditation are as follows:

• District of Distinction

• District of Distinction SILVER –requires special district governance training for most of the district’s board of directors.

• District of Distinction GOLD –requires special district governance training for the district’s full board and general manager.

• District of Distinction PLATINUMrequires special district governance training for the district’s full board and general manager, as well as the general manager earning their Certified Special District Manager designation. This is SDLF’s highest level of recognition for a district.

Aromas Water District, Herlong Public Utility District, and Dublin San Ramon Services District were selected by SDLF as the 2022 transparency challenge winners for earning their District of Distinction Accreditation or “leveling-up” and achieving the next District of Distinction Accreditation level!

Aromas Water District serves 965 connections served by several deepwater wells and operates with a small staff. The district had already achieved their Transparency Certificate of Excellence when SDLF launched the Level Up Challenge. In response to achieving the coveted District of Distinction, General Manager Robert Johnson explained, “Once we found out how close we were to completing the District of Distinction level, our Board made the choice to have our little district make it happen to show it can be done!” Knowing that this accreditation showcases the districts’ commitment to transparency and fiscal management, Johnson concluded, “As the District moves forward with new projects that will secure our water supply reliability and sustainability, we can use the District of Distinction accreditation as an indicator of our commitment to working through the challenges until a solution is achieved.”

Herlong Public Utility District achieved the Transparency Certificate of Excellence in 2021. General Manager Sandy Raffelson explained, “The District has undergone several changes with Staff and Board