At last week’s Virtual Special Districts Legislative Days event, nearly 150 special district participants heard from keynote speakers Secretary of State Alex Padilla, and Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot, and received a legislative update from CSDA’s advocacy team. During the briefing, participants learned about CSDA’s ongoing efforts to secure state and federal COVID-19 relief and were equipped to reach out to the State Legislature and U.S. Congress to request support. Registrants can now view the video on-demand via the Legislative Days Online Community and all CSDA members can download fact sheets, sample letters, and other materials on the Take Action Page.
In the wake of Legislative Days, CSDA is asking all special districts to continue in their advocacy efforts by contacting their state and federal legislators to share the essential roles special districts play in their communities and across the California. State and federal representative must hear your story as to the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on special districts.
Access to state and federal funding is critical to preventing long-term cuts in services and personnel for special districts. A recently conducted CSDA survey found that 24 percent of districts are currently experiencing significant budget or cash flow issues, or will be by June 2020, and 76 percent expect to by June 2021. This means that, without assistance, 1,500 local government organizations could experience financial duress and may be required to make cuts to staff and/or services. Click here to view the infographic detailing survey results on special district COVID-19 impacts.
Thank you to all the districts that have already submitted letters to Congress. Your efforts are already paying off, however, there is more yet to do. In the coming days, Congressman John Garamendi will be introducing federal legislation that would allow special districts direct access to the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Under the bill, each state would be required to allocate no less than five percent of a state’s share of future Coronavirus Relief Fund disbursements to their special districts. This legislation would remedy concerns surrounding special districts’ future access to much-needed assistance for previously-unbudgeted expenses and, potentially, revenue loss due to COVID-19. On Friday, Congressman Garamendi released draft text of the “Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act.”
In addition to needing your help for Congressman Garamendi’s legislation to pass or be included into other federal funding bills, your help is needed to ensure the California State Legislature includes special districts in any funding opportunities that are made available to all local governments, not just cities and counties.
CSDA has posted all the information needed for you to contact and educate your state and federal legislators on CSDA’s Take Action webpage. There, you will find contact information, fact sheets, a sample state letter, a sample federal letter, talking points, and sample social media posts.
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