One of CSDA’s primary missions is to advocate on behalf of special districts in the State Legislature. The engagement of local districts is vitally important to advance districts’ priorities in the legislative arena. A recent successful case study in advocacy was the Grizzly Flats Community Services District (CSD), which was significantly impacted by the devastating Caldor Fire in August 2021.
The CSD is located in El Dorado County and was formed in 1987 to provide public water service to approximately 600 connections. The District operates with three full-time staff and contracts for water operating services. Grizzly Flats has an annual operating budget around $550,000.
Almost 2/3rds of the District’s service connections were lost when the Caldor Fire destroyed most of Grizzly Flats. This situation created ongoing annual budget deficits, which impacted the CSD’s ability to fund operations and maintenance. Starting in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the District experienced shortfalls ranging from $125,000 to $182,000.
While the district pursued multiple grants and assistance from FEMA, the central challenge of finding financial assistance to stabilize the organization and simply “keep the doors open” remained problematic.
Earlier this year, CSDA staff reached out to staff from newly elected Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil’s office to highlight the CSD’s challenges. This outreach led to the CSD meeting with the Senator’s office, followed by a tour of the Grizzly Flats community and the CSD for the Senator.
This determined outreach ultimately produced a positive outcome for the District. In the 2023-2024 state budget, Senator Alvarado-Gil secured $450,000 for the CSD specifically for, “operations and maintenance needs to recover from the Caldor Fire.” This funding will provide critical resources and time to help the CSD rebuild.
This story highlights the importance of local district advocacy and outreach. Through targeted engagement and utilizing windows of opportunity, districts can advance strategic interests. Learn more about engaging with legislators and the public by downloading CSDA’s Take Action Guide at csda.net
Thank you to Senator Alvarado-Gil for her work and congratulations to the Grizzly Flats CSD for this advocacy success story!
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