The Barbed Wire - January 10, 2014

January 10, 2014
Governor Releases 2014-15 Proposed Budget
Sequestration Will Not Apply to Secure Rural Schools Money
U.S. Forest Service Begins Official Forest Plan Revision Process on Three California National Forests
LAO Report on Counties and Design-Build
Congress Inches Closer to Approval of a Final Farm Bill
Federal Budget Update
Events/Notices:

Governor Releases 2014-15 Proposed Budget

The Administration released the Governor’s 2014-15 Proposed Budget Wednesday evening, nearly 40 hours earlier than anticipated. California’s budget picture has improved dramatically over the past 18 months as personal income tax receipts have exceeded even modest expectations due in large part to capital gains revenue. 

Furthermore, strong assessed real property valuations, primarily along California’s coastal counties, have also contributed to an improved state budget picture. According to the Governor, state General Fund expenditures will grow from $98.4 billion in 2013-14 to $106.8 billion in 2014-15. The proposed Budget assumes a near $1 billion reserve, and a deposit of nearly $1.6 billion into the state’s rainy day fund.  The majority of the increase in General Fund spending will be devoted to public education (K-12 and higher education) and paying down debt obligations the Governor has prioritized.

Key Issues/Changes for RCRC Member CountiesUnder the Governor’s proposed Budget:

  • State Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program is not funded;

  • Williamson Act subventions are not funded;

  • Support for Fairs is not provided;

  • Funding allocations for the Governor’s recently-released Water Action Plan are identified;

  • State Responsibility Area fees continue to serve as a major source of funding for State programs;

  • Payments for pre-2004-05 local government mandate claims continue to be deferred; and,

  • Local jail construction application funding is increased.

The 2014-15 Proposed Budget can be accessed here.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Senior Legislative Advocate Paul A. Smith at 916.447.4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.

Sequestration Will Not Apply to Secure Rural Schools Money

Late last week, the Obama Administration announced that mandatory budget cuts known as “sequestration” will not apply to the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program for payments being dispersed in the next several weeks.  While the sequestered monies from last year are still be contested in Congress, this latest news from the Administration paves the way for rural communities across the nation to receive nearly $40 million in additional funding. 

Last year, the Obama Administration proclaimed that SRS funds for FY 2012 were subject to a near 5 percent sequestration, and that Title I and Title III sequestered amounts would be recaptured from Title II.  Congress remains skeptical of the Obama Administration’s interpretation of federal law in light of budget actions taken earlier in 2013.  Congressional hearings may still occur over the matter.

In October of 2013, Congress approved an additional one-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools program, which provides monies to forested counties (and schools located within) in light of a dramatic reduction in federal timber harvesting receipts.  Furthermore, all of RCRC’s member counties successfully submitted election requests to the Brown Administration in order that funding requests can be received and processed by the U.S. Forest Service.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Senior Legislative Advocate Paul A. Smith at 916.447.4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.

U.S. Forest Service Begins Official Forest Plan Revision Process on Three California National Forests

Region 5 of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has officially noticed the first document in its process of updating the forest plans for the Inyo, Sequoia, and Sierra National Forests. The “Preliminary Need for Change” document is the first step in the actual plan revision process for all three forests, which are “early adopter” forests whose plans are being revised under the 2012 update of the National Forest System Planning Rule.  

The three forests have already completed their initial forest assessments, which were not without controversy.  The assessments were done with no official guidance from the USFS or the corresponding Federal Advisory Committee, and some counties were unhappy with the minimal coordination between the forests and local governments.  The USFS has proposed planning directives to guide forests on updating their plans, but the USFS is still in the process of reviewing public comment as the planning process on early adopter forests moves forward.

Workshops have been scheduled in Bishop, Fresno, and Bakersfield to discuss the planning process and take oral comments on the Need for Change document.  Written comments should be submitted via email to Region 5 at R5planrevision@fs.fed.us no later than January 31, 2014.  Counties with land in any of the three forests should review the Need for Change and submit comments accordingly.

For more information, and to download the Need for Change document, visit the USFS Region 5 Forest Plan Revision website here.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Regulatory Affairs Advocate Staci Heaton at 916.447.4806 or sheaton@rcrcnet.org.

LAO Report on Counties and Design-Build

As required by law, earlier this week the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) issued a report on county projects developed with a design-build delivery method after November 1, 2009 and before August 1, 2013.  The report became required when the Legislature extended the sunset on county use of design-build from January 1, 2011, to July 1, 2014. 

The LAO opined that the information it reviewed did not provide any evidence that would discourage the Legislature from granting design-build authority to local agencies on an ongoing basis.  The LAO recommended, however, that the Legislature consider some changes, such as creating uniform design-build statute for agencies with design-build authority (such as counties, cities, and school districts), eliminating cost limitations, and requiring project cost to be a larger factor in awarding the design-build contract.  The LAO report can be accessed here.

RCRC has consistently supported ongoing authority for counties to utilize design-build. However, in the face of labor opposition, only efforts to extend the sunset on county authority have been successful to date.  The last bill to extend the sunset, which was enacted in 2013, extended county design-build authority until July 2016.  

For additional information, please contact RCRC Legislative Advocate Kathy Mannion at 916.447.4806 or kmannion@rcrcnet.org.

Congress Inches Closer to Approval of a Final Farm Bill

House-Senate discussions on a new Farm Bill are said to be stuck on dairy policy after negotiators tentatively agreed to about $9 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, over a decade.  Key lawmakers began meeting over the holidays and are trying to finalize a bill this month. 

First, however, negotiators will have to resolve differences over a proposed dairy supply management plan.  Furthermore, negotiations are expected to pare SNAP by changing the way a household’s monthly benefits are calculated, and increasing the threshold at which annual payments from a federal energy assistance program for low-income people can be used as a deduction.

Federal Budget Update

House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders worked through the holidays in an effort to finalize an omnibus appropriations bill for FY 2014.  Congress must pass something by January 15th, when the current funding expires, so we anticipate the omnibus being released toward the end of this week, giving the House and Senate time to pass the bill before the January 15 deadline.  

Additionally, the White House announced this week that the release of the President’s proposed FY 2015 budget will be delayed at least a month.  The budget was originally scheduled to be released on February 4th, but it will now likely be released sometime in March.

For additional information on Federal matters, please contact RCRC Senior Legislative Advocate Paul A. Smith at 916.447.4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.

Events/Notices:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Schedules Public Meeting on the Yellow-Legged Frog

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) scheduled two public meetings this month to discuss proposals to list and designate critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog, the northern distinct population segment of the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog, and the Yosemite Toad. 

The remaining meeting information is as follows:

January 13, 2014 (Monday)

1:00 p.m.

Fresno County Board of Supervisors Chambers

Hall of Records, Room 301

2281 Tulare Street

Fresno, CA 93721

The USFWS will present information and address questions as the draft economic analysis is currently slated to be released to the public by the end of the month. A public hearing on the proposals and draft economic analysis is planned in Sacramento following the release.

Additional information, including links to the proposed critical habitat maps by county can be accessed here.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Legislative Analyst Nick Konovaloff at 916.447.4806 or nkonovaloff@rcrcnet.org.

Drinking Water Reorganization

A public meeting has been scheduled concerning the proposed transfer of the Drinking Water Program (currently under the CA Department of Public Health (CDPH)) to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).  The purpose of the meeting is to obtain input to inform the proposed transfer of the Drinking Water Program.  A Transition Plan is anticipated to be completed by February 14, 2014. 

The meeting information is as follows:

January 15, 2014 (Wednesday)

9:00 a.m.

Cal-EPA Headquarters Building

Byron Sher Auditorium

1001 I Street, Second Floor
Sacramento, CA  95814

Last summer, the Brown Administration (Administration) released a White Paper describing its proposal to transfer the Drinking Water Program.  The transfer is intended to align the state’s drinking water and water quality programs into an integrated organizational structure.  The Administration’s objectives include continued focus on supporting small and disadvantaged communities to address their unique drinking water needs.

The White Paper can be accessed here.  A webcast of the meeting can be accessed here.

For additional information, please contact SWRCB Director of Transitions Elizabeth Haven at 916.341.5457 or liz.haven@waterboards.ca.gov.

Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentives Program Workshops Announced

The California Strategic Growth Council has announced the dates and locations for its Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentives Program Workshops. The Workshops are intended to provide technical assistance, an overview of the application process, and assist in the preparation of grant applications. 

Detailed workshop information can be accessed here. Grant guidelines, and staff contact information for questions can be accessed here.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Regulatory Affairs Advocate Mary Pitto at 916.447.4806 or mpitto@rcrcnet.org.

Department of Housing and Community Development Releases 2014 Community Development Block Grant Notice of Funding Availability

The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has released the 2014 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) of approximately $28,500,000 for CDBG eligible activities for funding year 2014-15. 

Applications (except for the Economic Development (ED) Over-the-Counter (OTC)) are due to HCD by April 11, 2014, with awards to be announced in July or August. The ED OTC application is due by April 30, 2015. Information related to this funding can be accessed here.

HCD will hold five workshops through the state. Detailed information on the workshops can be accessed here.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Regulatory Affairs Advocate Mary Pitto at 916.447.4806 or mpitto@rcrcnet.org.