By: @Chris Palmer
For the sixth year running, CSDA hosted a virtual special districts tour for more than 50 state and federal legislative staffers. The event, held December 9, 2025, focused on funding infrastructure essential for housing and featured the Chino Valley Fire District, Eastern Municipal Water District, and Desert Recreation District.
Building more housing is not possible without critical services such as water, sewer, fire protection, parks, and more. Therefore, funding this infrastructure is foundational to addressing California’s pressing housing needs. How should communities pay for the costs to install infrastructure necessary to build new homes and other development in livable, equitable, and thriving communities? During the live discussion, district leaders provided practical insights from specialists leading the way in addressing the importance of funding infrastructure essential for housing.
Visit 2025 Virtual Tour: Funding Infrastructure Essential for Housing - California Special Districts Association to download a tour packet, presentation slide decks, and share the informative videos with your peers:
Chino Valley Fire District shared the importance of having sufficient funding to meet the emergency response needs of their growing community. As California strives to address its housing needs, it’s important that state and local governments partner to ensure there are adequate resources needed when residents call 911.
The focus of the Desert Recreation District presentation was the importance of effective park district planning to meet the needs of its fast-growing region, the Coachella Valley. Desert Recreation and Park District currently partners with developers to meet the needs of its rapidly growing community without burdening existing residents with higher taxes.
To close the Virtual Tour, Eastern Municipal Water District discussed their strategy of utilizing connection fees to support continued growth in Western Riverside County. As the sixth largest public water utility in California, EMWD’s residents value a "growth pays for growth” model. Connection fees ensure existing customers do not bear the cost of new development, and development related fees are crucial to accommodate new housing and economic growth. The water district works closely with developers, land-use agencies, and other stakeholders to execute a "just-in-time" approach so that infrastructure is available for new development, while maximizing ratepayer investments.
CSDA appreciates the interest and engagement from state and federal officials from the administration, lawmakers’ offices, key legislative committees, and others who took the time to learn more about how special districts play a role in providing the essential infrastructure needed to support our communities’ housing and development needs.
We hope you can watch the full recorded virtual tour for a comprehensive look at the inspiring approaches these districts are taking to make a difference in their communities.