In the vast landscapes of rural America, communities are grappling with a range of challenges that hinder their ability to provide adequate care for their residents. The state of California is no exception. Limited access to high-speed broadband, a scarcity of nearby educational institutions, difficulties in obtaining health care due to hospital closures and a shortage of medical professionals, inadequate transportation systems and limited economic opportunities are just a few of the obstacles that rural communities must confront.
Sadly, the needs of these rural areas often take a backseat to issues faced by their urban and suburban counterparts. Areas with larger populations naturally enjoy greater political power and better access to resources, leaving rural communities at a disadvantage. The Rural California 2023 Report, distributed by the Little Hoover commission and documented by Measure America, an affiliate of the nonprofit Social Science Research Council, documents the impact these issues have on a rural community’s ability to care for its residents.
The comprehensive report further explores well-being and access to opportunities among rural Californians using the American Human Development Index (HDI), which measures how people are doing on three key dimensions of well-being―a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living. The HDI is a composite measure of well-being and access to opportunity made up of health, education, and earnings indicators. The index is expressed on a scale of 0 to 10. Measure of HDI calculations provide a snapshot of community well-being, reveal inequalities between groups, allow for tracking change over time, and provide a tool for holding elected officials accountable. Broken down by race and ethnicity, by gender, and by census tract, the index shows how communities across rural California are faring relative to one another and the state and county as a whole.
The report reveals that the average HDI score for rural areas in California is 4.84 out of 10, compared to the state average of 5.85. While rural communities throughout the state and the country share many common obstacles to well-being, HDI scores within rural California vary significantly based on demographic group and geological location. The five tracts with the lowest scores in rural California exhibit common characteristics such as high percentages of adults 25 and older who have not completed high school, limited access to broadband internet, high rates of disability, a substantial portion of the population of children under the age of five coupled with high unemployment rates, and high rates of vacant housing units. On the other hand, the five highest scoring rural county tracts are characterized by higher earnings, excellent broadband internet, and have a low percentage of vacant housing units. Additionally, higher numbers of residents in these areas hold graduate degrees.
One of the factors exacerbating the inequality gap is the lack of internet access, which has created an opportunity divide between those with and without broadband connectivity. Remote learning, working from home, and virtual healthcare consultations, which have become the new norm, are only possible with fast and reliable internet. In response to this issue the Broadband for All bill (SB 156) authorized a $6 billion investment in universal statewide broadband access. While this investment is a welcome step, it is important for local officials from rural areas and long-time broadband advocates to play a role in ensuring that the expansion benefits everyone in rural counties in this statewide investment.
While the occupation of providing critical services for communities is a large responsibility, special districts are not without their tools. Special districts can strategically develop financial reserves to ensure continuity of quality services. Many maintain pipelines, firefighting equipment, or sanitation plants, for instance, on relatively small budgets. These funds can support a special district during a prolonged crisis with long-term fiscal impacts to ensure the community is prepared for the next inevitable emergency, like an earthquake, flood, hurricane, or pandemic.
Special districts can also utilize ways to measure service outcomes. This is an important means to assess the efficacy of services being provided or even to bring public awareness to relevant issues. Special districts with the time and resources may want to utilize public opinion polls such as cloud-based polling. These can offer inexpensive ways to receive feedback, exchange ideas, and call for action. In addition to websites and social media, community groups and advisory bodies are also a great way to study and analyze the efficacy of services. Becoming a member of a community group is a great way to make presentations on projects and decisions of the special district to those who are already engaged in the community. Advisory bodies can take time to evolve and may do so in unintended ways, they are useful in recruiting future candidates for governing board as the participants will have some knowledge of the service provided by the special district.
The findings of the Rural California 2023 Report shed light on the pressing issues faced by rural communities across the state. The report further underscores the importance of providing vital services while accounting for the diverse needs of rural communities. By strategically managing resources, measuring outcomes, and actively engaging with the public, special districts can play a pivotal role in fostering growth and improving the quality of life for Californian’s regardless of where they reside.
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