California Special Districts Association

‼️ Special Districts Week (May 18–24, 2025) is a dedicated time to raise awareness about the essential services that special districts provide to communities across California. From clean water and fire protection to libraries, parks, healthcare, and more, special districts are at the heart of local government—delivering vital services that impact daily life. Recognized by the State Legislature through Assembly Concurrent Resolution 36 (Carrillo), this week is an opportunity to educate, engage, and advocate for the role special districts play in shaping strong, sustainable communities. It also coincides with CSDA’s Special Districts Legislative Days (May 20-21, 2025)—a key event for meeting with lawmakers and amplifying the voice of special districts at the Capitol. By participating in Special Districts Week, you can: ✅ Increase public awareness of your district’s services. ✅ Strengthen relationships with local and state legislators. ✅ Engage your community in meaningful civic involvement. ✅ Advocate for policies that support the long-term success of special districts. How Do I Start Taking Action? ✅ Send a Support Letter – Let your legislators know you support ACR 36. ✅ Pass a Resolution – Encourage your board to adopt an official resolution recognizing Special Districts Week. ✅ Use Social Media – Share graphics and key messages on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter). ✅ Engage Your Community – Publish a newsletter article or press release to educate constituents. ✅ Attend Legislative Days – Join CSDA in Sacramento to advocate for policies that strengthen special districts. Download the full toolkit and start making an impact today! https://buff.ly/BsKiG0L #SpecialDistrictsWeek #ACR36 #LocalServicesMatter

Congratulations to the Soquel Creek Water District on their remarkable achievement! The district has been honored with the "Organization of the Year" award by the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce. This accolade celebrates the successful completion of the Pure Water Soquel project, a four-year endeavor costing $140 million. The project aims to combat saltwater intrusion into ground aquifers, ensuring a more stable and reliable water supply for the 40,600 residents under their care. This achievement underscores the district's commitment to sustainable water management and highlights their dedication to serving the community effectively.

✨ Do you know a person, district or chapter that makes a difference in the community? Nominate them for a CSDA award! 🏆 Categories for large and small district, individuals & chapters built just for YOU to recognize the amazing work special districts do every day! Don't miss out - it's free and easy to nominate! The CSDA Awards nomination window closes May 1⏳#CSDAawards https://buff.ly/QzNEBJB

Congratulations to Blanca Rubio California State Assembly on being named CSDA's Legislator of the Year! 🎉 This recognition is awarded annually by CSDA and was presented last Friday at the inaugural meeting of the Special Districts Association of San Gabriel Valley, held at the Three Valleys Municipal Water District. 🎉🏆 #Legislator #BlancaRubio #SpecialDistricts

🌟 On this #AwardsWednesday, we are celebrating Camarillo Health Care District winning the 2024 award for Innovative Program of the Year for their BALANCEfit & POWERfit Fall Prevention Program. We are currently accepting nominations for 2025 awards and YOU can submit a nomination at buff.ly/FAaXFiU by May 1 🏆#CSDAawards

⭐ Let's give a warm welcome to new CSDA members: County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities & Parks: Special Districts Division Soldedad Cemetery District IHSS Public Authority of Marin ⭐ Welcome to our new business affiliates: CIPO Software RH Borden and Company Safe and Sound Security ParcelQuest Brightly Software Starting Line Advisory SL Environmental Law Group, PC Evident Amazon Business

✨ Celebrating Leadership & Innovation in California’s Special Districts! ✨ Every day, dedicated professionals step up to lead, innovate, and strengthen communities across California’s special districts. These individuals bring expertise, vision, and passion to their roles—helping to shape the future of public service. Let’s take a moment to recognize the Movers & Shakers making an impact this week! 👏 Join us in welcoming these outstanding leaders: 🔹 West Basin Municipal Water District – Welcomes Wendy O'Kelly as their new Chief Financial Officer. 🔹 Santa Margarita Water District – Welcomes Kristine (Hulse) Day as their new Assistant General Manager. 🔹 Santa Margarita Water District – Welcomes Lindsay Leahy, P.E. as their new Deputy General Manager. 🔹 Monterey Peninsula Water Management District – Welcomes Mike McCullough as their new Assistant General Manager. 🔹 Truckee Sanitary District – Welcomes Sanna Schlosser, PE, PMP as their new General Manager. 🔹 Tahoe City Public Utility District – Welcomes Dan Lewis as their new Director of Utilities. 🔹 Calaveras County Water District – Welcomes Kevin Williams as their new Lead Engineer. 🚀 Congratulations to these exceptional leaders! Their dedication and expertise will continue to drive progress in our districts and communities. Tag a colleague or leave a comment to celebrate their achievements! 🎉 #Leadership #SpecialDistricts #MoversAndShakers #MondayMoversAndShakers

ICYMI - It was a big week for #SB496! Shout out to Olivenhain Municipal Water Dst General Manager Kimberly Thorner who visited the State Capitol to provide testimony. We'd also like to thank the bill's author, Senator Melissa Hurtado, and our fellow co-sponsors of this important bill that will take steps to mitigate some of the hardship placed upon local government relative to the state's ambitious goals to implement zero emission vehicle standards in government fleets. #CSDAadvocates #ZEV #SB496 https://buff.ly/y2606jN

🚨 Special Districts Legislative Days: Advocate for Your Community! 🚨 Join special district leaders in Sacramento on May 20-21, 2025, for Special Districts Legislative Days, where you’ll gain insights, connect with policymakers, and advocate for the future of your district. This event is your opportunity to influence legislation and secure the resources needed to enhance community services. 📅 Learn more & register: sdld.csda.net #SDLD2025 #SpecialDistricts #CSDA #Advocacy #LocalLeadership

Join CSDA Endorsed Affiliate VC3 for a brief webinar on IT budgeting, where their team of experts will answer the IT questions crucial to your district’s operations and cybersecurity. As a CSDA Business Affiliate member, VC3 helps special district leaders navigate the complexities of IT budgeting, equipping them to make informed decisions even with limited resources. With expertise in managed IT and cybersecurity services tailored for municipalities and special districts, VC3 is a trusted resource for ensuring secure and efficient operations. Title: Unpredictable Expense to Predictable Roadmap - the IT Budgeting Journey Date: Wednesday April 9th at 10am PST Description: Information technology is a critical part of a special district's annual spending. It’s important for district officials to flesh out a fairly detailed IT budget to help uncover inefficiencies, save money, and better execute operational goals. In this presentation, we will talk about the essential components of an IT budget, tips on presenting IT budgets, and IT budgeting examples. We’ll also discuss tips on budgeting to replace “end of life” hardware, alternative budget-friendly IT support options to overcome challenges with IT staffing, and how AI impacts your district's technology. Registration link/event page: https://buff.ly/CjYjTz8 Speaker: Dustin Tucker- VC3 Senior Strategic Advisor