Counties Have Options to Meet Short-Term Cash Flow Needs
by Paul McIntosh, Executive Director pmcintosh@counties.org As counties prepare budgets for the next fiscal year, attention turns to cash flow needs. The state is considering the same issue and finds itself in unprecedented times. Counties will recall that just three months ago, the State Controller found it necessary to withhold all non-priority payments due to inadequate cash on hand. While the passage of a budget package addressed the short term issue, the state still has a huge cash shortfall anticipated for July. Recall, too, that the budget as adopted anticipates two months of deferrals of social services payments in July and August to assist the state with its cash flow problems. The state and counties are preparing to issue Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs). The state is considering an issue in the neighborhood of $15 billion – potentially the largest in state history.
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Counties Combat Swine Flu
County health departments are working virtually around the clock in order to respond to the recent global outbreak of the H1N1 influenza virus, commonly known as swine flu. As of yesterday, 41 counties had activated their Emergency Operations Centers to closely monitor, investigate, and respond to possible influenza cases within their jurisdictions.
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Correction: Assembly Local Government Committee Vote on AB 155
Last week’s Bulletin article regarding AB 155 (Mendoza), related to municipal bankruptcy, made an error in the final vote count on the bill. To clarify, the final vote tally was 4-3, with Assembly Members Juan Arambula, Steve Knight, and Mike Duvall in opposition. Once again, we extend our appreciation to these members for standing with local governments during a difficult hearing.
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Administration of Justice
The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration met on April 30 to discuss two principal budget areas: the judicial branch and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
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Agriculture and Natural Resources
SB 715, by Senator Lois Wolk, would make changes to the Williamson Act.
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Employee Relations
On April 24, the California Court of Appeals ruled in the case of Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association vs. County of Sonoma that binding interest arbitration under Senate Bill 440 is unconstitutional.
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Government Finance and Operations
AB 10, by Assembly Member Curt Hagman, would prohibit public officials from using public resources to commence an action to enjoin the operation of any law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition and approved by a vote of the people.
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Health and Human Services
AB 1445, by Assembly Member Wes Chesbro, would allow federally qualified health centers to be reimbursed by Medi-Cal for multiple visits by a patient with a single or different health care professional on the same day at a single location.
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Housing, Land Use and Transportation
AB 696, by Assembly Member Curt Hagman, would allow an applicant for a project and the lead agency, at the time of application, to opt to resolve all disputes arising out of a subsequent environmental impact report for that project before an arbitrator, in lieu of retaining the option to file an action or proceeding arising out of those disputes before a court.
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Indian Gaming
SB 357, by Senator Denise Ducheny, would extend the sunset date of the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund (SDF) Grant Program, for grants to local jurisdictions to mitigate the impacts if tribal casinos, until January 1, 2020.
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