By: @Erasmo Viveros
The 2025 Special Districts Tour brought together fifteen Capitol staffers – from the State Senate, Assembly, Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office – for a hands-on, immersive experience to learn about the day-to-day operations and challenges that special districts face in providing essential services.
This year’s two-day tour stopped at six special districts along the journey from Sacramento to Merced and back. Check out some of the highlights in our recap video:
Watch 2025 Tour Recap Video
The tour is a collaborative effort and would not have been possible with our partners: the California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) and the Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD).
The six host sites for the 2025 tour run throughout the northern end of California’s Central Valley. Each of these special districts served as gracious hosts, preparing an engaging and insightful experience while sharing their stories:
• Galt-Arno Cemetery District
• Turlock Irrigation District
• Delhi County Water District
• Merced County Mosquito Abatement District
• Del Puerto Health Care District
• West Stanislaus County Fire Protection District
By welcoming us into their facilities and showcasing their operations, these districts helped illustrate the essential role they play in keeping California’s communities running – whether through reliable utilities, public health protection, or accountable local governance. Each stop on the tour brought to life the innovation, commitment, and community spirit that define special districts across the state.
A primary goal of the tour is to increase awareness and understanding of special districts among key decision-makers. The tour also provides a key opportunity to tell the story of special districts and what makes them valuable to the communities they serve and the State of California collectively, as was highlighted through Galt-Arno Cemetery District’s dedication to community legacy, to the Turlock Irrigation District’s vital water and power operations, Delhi County Water District’s infrastructure investments, Merced County Mosquito Abatement District’s public health efforts, and the integrated emergency and healthcare services in Patterson area brought by Del Puerto Health Care District and West Stanislaus County Fire Protection District.
Before the tour began, legislative staff attendees were asked, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your knowledge of special districts at this point in time?” The average rating was 5.25. The same question was asked again at the conclusion of the tour, resulting in an average rating of 7.88 – reflecting approximately a 50% increase in knowledge.
Moreover, the tour provided an invaluable opportunity for legislative staff – the people shaping public policy – to connect directly with district professionals and local leaders who dedicate their expertise to protecting public health, safety, and quality of life. These individuals represent problem-solvers who embody community-driven innovation.
Highlights from the 2025 Tour
Galt-Arno Cemetery District
The tour kicked off with a visit to the Galt-Arno Cemetery District, where District Manager Belinda Ellis shared the ongoing challenges of maintaining an aging well and irrigation system, as well as the financial strain caused by the state’s mandate to transition from gas-powered to fully battery-operated landscaping equipment. Legislative staff also gained a behind-the-scenes look at what a burial service entails.
Turlock Irrigation District
Our second stop took us to the Turlock Irrigation District, where Director of External Affairs Josh Weimer introduced staff to Project Nexus – a collaboration with UC Merced that installs solar panels across irrigation canals to generate power while reducing water evaporation. The group also learned about TID’s innovative efforts to create a closed system by incorporating a holding pond to help meet water needs during peak seasons.
Delhi County Water District
The final stop of Day One was the Delhi County Water District, where General Manager Leandro Maldonado and his team showcased their unique algae treatment plant – one of only two in California – designed to operate efficiently with minimal staffing, energy costs, and chemical usage.
Merced County Mosquito Abatement District
Day Two began with a visit to the Merced County Mosquito Abatement District. General Manager Rhiannon Jones and her team proudly showcased their new state-of-the-art facility, completed well under budget. They demonstrated the advanced tools, technologies, and strategies they use to combat mosquito-borne diseases and protect public health.
Del Puerto Health Care District & West Stanislaus County Fire Protection District
Our final stops highlighted how collaboration among special districts enhances efficiency and public safety. We were welcomed by Dr. Karin Freese, CEO of the Del Puerto Health Care District, who discussed plans for a long-awaited healthcare campus that will serve the growing needs of Patterson and surrounding communities.
West Stanislaus County Fire Protection District
Following a short ride, Fire Chief Jeffery Frye and his team at Fire Station 53 shared their experiences as a volunteer-only fire district. Chief Frye highlighted the significant challenges of volunteer turnover – partly due to the state’s ten-dollar cap per call for volunteer firefighters – and the difficulty of gaining community support for rate increases needed to sustain vital services and equipment. We ended the tour by tearing up some cars using the jaws of life!
This year’s tour gave everyone much to reflect on. We hope that participating legislative staff will carry these experiences forward as they consider how future policy decisions impact the special districts that provide critical, specialized services to communities across California.
View the full tour guide: https://assets.csda.net/share/D7ABDF93-ADD0-45EE-AAC4E71754AEB0ED/?viewType=grid
#AdvocacyNews
#FeatureNews
#GrassrootsNews