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Special Districts on LAFCo: Why, Why Not, & How

Special Districts on LAFCo: Why, Why Not, & How. Cathy Schlottmann Mission Hills CSD Santa Barbara LAFCo. Why be on LAFCO?. To “gain a seat at the table” If you’re not at the table, then you are on the table. Who’s at the Table?.

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Special Districts on LAFCo: Why, Why Not, & How

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  1. Special Districts on LAFCo:Why, Why Not, & How Cathy Schlottmann Mission Hills CSD Santa Barbara LAFCo

  2. Why be on LAFCO? • To “gain a seat at the table” • If you’re not at the table, then you are on the table

  3. Who’s at the Table? • Per Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, LAFCO is comprised of: • 2 County Supervisors + an alternate • 2 City Council people + an alternate • 1 public member + an alternate • AND: if they so choose, 2 Special District Directors + an alternate

  4. Advantages to Districts from being on LAFCO: • Special Districts have 2 votes in LAFCO deliberations: • Annexations & reorganizations of cities and districts • MSR and Sphere of Influence decisions • Latent powers of districts • District consolidations and dissolutions

  5. Advantages (continued): • LAFCO is the only venue where special districts are a fully participating equal to Cities and the County • All special districts gain stature when seated on LAFCO • Build better relationships with county supervisors and mayors

  6. Advantages to LAFCO • Districts bring a perspective to LAFCO that is distinct from general government entities • Districts are service-focused and bring a knowledge of infrastructure • Districts on LAFCO often more in tune with the spirit and intent of LAFCO law • We alter the dynamics between a County & the Cities in LAFCO deliberations

  7. Cost of Being Seated on LAFCO • CSD, San Luis Obispo County 0.37% • $19,756 of $5.3 million O&M budget • CSD, Santa Barbara County 0.09% • $1,242 of $1,346,587 O&M budget • Per 56381(1)(A), LAFCO is funded one-third each from the County, cities, and independent special districts. Can be negotiated. . .

  8. Changes to Districts: • No longer “just a small district” • Changes the balance of power • There will be change, and by being at the table, you have a votes and an active voice in the process

  9. References: • www.calafco.org- CaLAFCO website for sample documents • www.opr.ca.gov– Governor’s Office of Planning & Research, Publications tab, for guidelines & information on LAFCo process plus CEQA & planning resources and links

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