Vacancies on Controller’s Advisory Committee

The State Controller’s Office has announced two vacancies on their Advisory Committee on County Accounting Procedures. It is often referred to as the 10-Member Advisory Committee. One of the vacant seats is for a County Supervisor, the other for a County Administrative Officer. If you or one of your colleagues would like to be considered for one of the seats, please submit your name and background to Jean Kinney Hurst. 

Local Bonds

SB 911 (De León) – Request for Comment
As Amended on April 4, 2011

SB 911, by Senator Kevin De León, would require local agencies to make public certain information about each expenditure of bond proceeds. It would also require agencies that issue bonds to implement a bond issuance ethics policy.’

Local agency CFOs currently have to report annually to their governing board on the amount of funds collected and expended and the status of any project funded by the bond. SB 911 would additionally require the following information about each expenditure of bond proceeds:

• The name and principal location of each recipient of funds.
• The amount.
• The type of transaction.
• The identity of the local agency or other entity making the expenditure.
• The funding source for the expenditure.
• A brief description of any item or service purchased.

The same information would also have to be posted on the agency’s website. 

Please forward any comments you or your agency have about this bill to Geoffrey Neill.

The Senate Governance and Finance Committee will consider SB 911 at its meeting on Wednesday, May 4.

SB 633 (Huff) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on February 18, 2011

SB 633, by Senator Bob Huff, would require repayment of any bond funds improperly spent, plus a 5 percent fine. The repayment and penalty must be paid by the “issuer, legislative body, or party otherwise responsible for the unauthorized use.” The fine would be deposited into the bond fund. It would apply to expenditures for purposes not authorized by the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds. The requirement would affect both local agencies and the state.

The Senate Governance and Finance Committee will consider SB 633 at its meeting on Wednesday, May 4.

Election Reimbursement

SB 106 (Blakeslee) – Support
As Introduced on January 13, 2011

SB 106, by Senator Sam Blakeslee, would change statute to say that the state shall pay the costs of legislative vacancy special elections.

A statute to this effect was in effect for many years up through the end of 2008. Since the beginning of 2009, counties have spent at least $20 million to fill eleven vacancies, and more vacancies will need to be filled later this year. SB 106 would cover elections held between January 1, 2009, and April 19, 2011.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will consider SB 106 at its hearing on Monday, May 2.

Local Taxes

SB 223 (Leno) – Support
As Introduced on February 9, 2011

SB 223, by Senator Mark Leno, would authorize each county to place a measure before voters to impose an assessment on vehicles owned by that county’s residents.

SB 223 would allow communities that are willing to pay more money for local services to do so, without forcing the same of residents in other areas. CSAC supports local control; counties believe that each community should be able to decide for itself what level of services its government provides and the appropriate method of funding them.

The two percent vehicle license fee rate, which would be the maximum aggregate rate allowed under SB 223, is the rate Californians were accustomed to paying for decades. SB 223 goes beyond the current constitutional vote requirements by requiring a 2/3 vote of the Board of Supervisors to place such a measure before voters.

The Senate Governance and Finance Committee will consider SB 223 at its meeting on Wednesday, April 27.