Blogs

Federal Update: Week of July 20, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 5 days ago
Congress Congress is in session. The Senate returns today to consider nominations. The House returns today to consider the NDAA, a short-term CR, and the third reconciliation package. The House Rules Committee will hold a business meeting on Monday to consider six bills, including the House’s NDAA ( H.R.8800 ), short-term CR ( H.R.9770 ), and Reconciliation 3.0 measure . FY27 Appropriations: House Republicans released a stopgap CR measure on Friday, July 17, to fund the government through December 4, 2026. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the measure on Monday, July 20. The bill would temporarily extend current ...

Court of Appeal Issues Favorable Decision for Water and Wastewater Agency Ratemaking

By Morgan Leskody posted 5 days ago
By: @Madison Datus , CSDA Law Clerk A recent decision by the First District Court of Appeal held that legal challenges to new or increased water or wastewater rates must be brought through specified validation proceedings and must be brought within the 120-day statute of limitations enacted by SB 323 (2022) provided that the agency follows specific notice procedures. The published decision provides clarity around the application of the newly enacted Gov. Code § 53759 and enhances protections for an agency’s ability to set rates under Proposition 218 . CSDA has closely tracked this case in support of water and wastewater agencies, including filing ...

August 5 CARB Webinar Covers ZEV Mandate Requirements

By Morgan Leskody posted 5 days ago
By: @Brittney Barsotti As a part of their “Next-Stop to Zero” campaign, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will be hosting a free webinar August 5 from 11:00am to 12:30pm that will go over requirements, incentive programs, and discussion groups on ZEV conversion that will be required under the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations. This webinar series will follow CARB’s August 1, 2026 deadline to finalize its latest amendments to the ACF ZEV mandate on medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. CSDA has advocated for categorical exemptions for vehicles needed to support emergency response, as well as greater flexibility in general throughout the ACF ...

Pension “Un-Reform” Bill Reaches Critical Juncture: Get Engaged

By Morgan Leskody posted 5 days ago
By: @Aaron Avery On Monday, August 3, AB 1383 [McKinnor] Public employees’ retirement benefits , will be heard in the California State Senate Appropriations Committee and will be followed by additional consideration by the committee on its Suspense File. CSDA is actively opposing the measure in coalition with other public employer associations because it undermines the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) and the stability that reform has brought to the public pension system and public agency budgets. AB 1383 is sponsored by the California Professional Firefighters, and seeks to make the following changes to PEPRA: Increase ...

Can Your District Afford to Pay More Sales Taxes?

By Morgan Leskody posted 5 days ago
By: @Marcus Detwiler Senate Bill 122 , a piece of budget-related legislation signed into law in June, enacted new state tax provisions, including a sales tax on digital prewritten software purchased in California. Special districts and other local agencies will be required to pay this new tax, diverting limited resources from the communities they serve. Previously, when software was downloaded at the point of sale (rather than obtained on a physical medium like a CD-ROM or USB flash drive), the purchase was exempt from sales tax. Beginning January 1, 2027, SB 122 changes state law to make all purchases of digital software, regardless of delivery method, ...

Final Reminder: CSDA Board of Directors Seat C Voting Closes This Friday!

By Morgan Leskody posted 5 days ago
There’s still time to make your district’s voice heard in the CSDA Board of Directors election. Electronic voting closes Friday, July 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM (PT). If you are your district’s designated contact and have not yet submitted your ballot, please check your inbox for the email from vote@simplyvoting.com containing your voting credentials and ballot link. Questions? Contact Amber Phelen at amberp@csda.net . #FeatureNews

Grants Update: Week of July 20, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 6 days ago
Announcements Thank you to those who joined NSDA for their second Lunch & Learn webinar, Getting Through the Front Door: SAM.gov, Federal Forms & Your First Application. This session helped districts navigate common grant application hurdles through a step-by-step walk through of SAM.gov registration, SF-424 forms, and the first submission process. Click below to catch up on what was discussed! Watch the Webinar Review the Slide Deck New Grant Opportunities Department of Health and Human Services FY 2026 Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program (SHCPQIP) WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program supports the planning ...

2027 CSDA Committee & Expert Feedback Team Interest Forms Are Now Available!

By Morgan Leskody posted 12 days ago
2027 committee interest forms can be submitted ONLINE at CSDA.net! CSDA’s strength and effectiveness as an organization is directly related to our ability to involve members in the work of the association. Special districts board members and staff, as well as business affiliates bring tremendous talents and energy to CSDA and to the issues that concern special districts in California. With this in mind, we are asking for volunteers to participate and contribute on one or more of our committees and/or expert feedback teams to assist in shaping CSDA. If you or any others from your district or company would like to get involved with CSDA, please go to our ...

Federal Update: Week of July 13, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 12 days ago
Congress is in session. The Senate returns today to consider the NDAA and nominations. The House returns today to consider the NDAA and appropriations bills. The House Rules Committee will hold a business meeting on Monday to consider four bills, including the FY 2027 National Security-State Department appropriations bill and the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 ( H.R.139 ). FY27 Appropriations: The House returns to consider FY 2027 appropriations bills and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). However, President Trump has urged Republicans to send him a third reconciliation package, as well as pass the SAVE America Act, Republicans’ ...

Grants Update: Week of July 13, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 12 days ago
Announcements The next NSDA webinar is just ONE week away! Join NSDA on Thursday, July 16, 2026, for Getting Through the Front Door: SAM.gov, Federal Forms & Your First Application, a webinar that breaks down everything you need to know to submit federal grant applications with confidence. Register here . You’ll learn: How to successfully register with SAM.gov What the SF-424 forms actually mean How to avoid common first-time application mistakes Key federal deadlines you cannot afford to miss New Grant Opportunities Department of Health and Human Services FY 2026 First Responders: Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Support ...

Listen Like a Leader: One General Manager’s Journey in Leadership

By Morgan Leskody posted 19 days ago
By: Stephanie Jantzen, General Manager, El Dorado Hills Community Services District Being a General Manager is rewarding, and it’s hard. Being an elected official is harder still. I walked into an organization during the most challenging time it had faced since its inception in 1962. Grand jury reports, lawsuits, instability at the executive level, an inability to attract needed talent, staff drowning in uncertainty and fear, and a public that was angry, very angry. All of this was happening alongside a board facing unusual and unprecedented challenges, complex policy issues, and a former General Manager who had been unethical and dishonest. My most ...

Three Cost Drivers Every Special District Employer Should Understand About Workers’ Compensation

By Morgan Leskody posted 19 days ago
By: @Kristin Withrow As workers’ compensation costs continue to climb across California, special districts must be increasingly aware of the risk of high value claims. To better understand what is driving those costs—and what employers should be paying close attention to—we spoke with Gideon Baum, president of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute, on his presentation at the SDRMA Spring Education Day in March. Baum, who assumed leadership of CWCI in late 2025, has spent much of his career working at the intersection of public policy, data, and workers’ compensation reform. In our interview, he pointed to three major cost drivers that are reshaping ...

Grants Update: Week of July 6, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 19 days ago
Announcements The next NSDA webinar is just 2 weeks away! Join NSDA on July 16, 2026, for Getting Through the Front Door: SAM.gov, Federal Forms & Your First Application, a webinar that breaks down everything you need to know to submit federal grant applications with confidence. Register here . You’ll learn: How to successfully register with SAM.gov What the SF-424 forms actually mean How to avoid common first-time application mistakes Key federal deadlines you cannot afford to miss New Grant Opportunities Department of Homeland Security FY 2026 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program ...

Federal Update: Week of July 6, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 19 days ago
Congress: FY 27 Appropriations/Federal Legislation: This week, the House was expected to consider the FY 2027 National Security-State Department appropriations bill, as well as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). However, floor action and markups stalled amid the ongoing push for the SAVE America Act ( H.R.7296 ). Fourteen Republicans voted against a procedural rule that would have started debate on the National Security-State Department appropriations and NDAA, prompting House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to send lawmakers home on Wednesday, July 1 until the week of July 13. Housing Package: ...

The Mid-Year Legislative Report for All Special Districts is Out

By Morgan Leskody posted 19 days ago
By: @Kyle Packham On July 2, 2026, the California State Legislature adjourned for its one-month Summer Recess, providing the perfect opportunity to take stock in the status of legislation impacting special districts and the communities they serve. At this inflection point in the legislative cycle, CSDA has released its annual Mid-Year Legislative Report highlighting the legislation that matters most to California’s 2,000 special districts. Thus far, the Legislature has introduced and CSDA has reviewed 2,178 measures, with CSDA adopting “priority” positions, such as “support” or “oppose” on 235 of them and watching hundreds more. CSDA's 2026 advocacy ...

State Budget Deal: Impacts on Special Districts

By Morgan Leskody posted 26 days ago
By: @Kyle Packham , @Marcus Detwiler , and @Anthony Tannehill Late Monday, June 29, the California State Legislature formally passed the 2026-2027 State Budget deal announced by Governor Gavin Newsom and Legislative leaders the preceding Friday. The $352 billion budget spared special districts from new restrictions on development related fees needed for infrastructure while raising sales and use taxes on digital software. Additional budget legislation is possible later this week and is expected in the closing days before the August 31 end to the legislative session. The Legislature and Governor have deferred Proposition 4 bond funding allocation decisions ...

NSDA Documenting Concerns About OMB Proposed Rule to Rework Federal Funding Processes

By Morgan Leskody posted 27 days ago
NSDA is currently analyzing, providing resources and asking for input. What are we hearing? NSDA has been collecting feedback on potential impacts from the rule changes and across the board, our members are extremely concerned. Please send feedback to your State Association lead or Chantalu@nationalspecialdistricts.org. What is most concerning? Potential termination of grants at anytime for any reason Review and cancellation by political appointees which may create bottlenecks No consultation process of the rule proposal potential for impacts to municipal bond ratings and project delivery. Extension Request: The National League ...

Member Highlight: See What CSDA Members Are Up To

By Morgan Leskody posted 27 days ago
Recent Member Highlights CSDA is proud to help share the stories, milestones, and community moments happening across California’s special districts. Through our member submitted content portal , districts can share news, events, awards, leadership updates, and local accomplishments that reflect the essential work happening every day in communities throughout the state. Below are a few recent submissions from our members. Submit Your District News Young Artists Bring Water Conservation to Life at Rowland Water District More than 500 local students turned their creativity toward water conservation through Rowland Water District’s ...

Governor Newsom’s Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation Plan for 2026-2030

By Morgan Leskody posted 27 days ago
By: @Lilia Hernandez The Office of Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced the new 2026-2030 five-year action plan drafted by the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force proposing next steps for wildfire mitigation efforts. This plan follows the governor’s initial Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan implemented by the Task Force in 2021 to offset the reoccurrence of wildfires after California reached its highest record of six destructive wildfires in 2020, burning over 4 million acres across the state. The new action plan prioritizes collaboration with federal, tribal, local, and private organizations throughout California emphasizing strategies ...

Legislature Cuts Deal With Vote Threshold Proponents – What It Means

By Morgan Leskody posted 27 days ago
By: @Kyle Packham At the eleventh hour before the deadline for state ballot initiatives to qualify or be removed from the November 3, 2026, statewide ballot, proponents of Initiative 1983, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Legislative leaders announced a deal that protects special districts and other local agencies from the retroactive invalidation of already-approved majority-vote citizens initiatives but could increase the vote threshold on such local revenue measures going forward. The legislatively approved compromise results in the removal of both Initiative 1983 and ACA 13 (Ward) from the November 2026 statewide ballot and their replacement with ACA ...