As we look back on 2012, the CSAC Finance Corporation is pleased to reflect on the continued success of our programs.

The CalTRUST investment pool continued to grow this year, adding 16 local agency participants and sustaining assets in excess of $1.1 Billion.  One CalTRUST highlight this year was the launch of the CalTRUST Education Program.  This fall, the education program launched with a two-part white paper on the fundamentals of Net Asset Value and a webinar on short-term investing strategies.  The education program will continue to grow next year with additional webinars and white papers.  If you have any ideas on what educational investment pieces would be beneficial to your county please let us know!

The California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) continued to benefit California counties this year by launching our first set of energy programs with a commercial PACE program offered in 14 counties.  In addition, we launched our Sustainable Energy Bond Program available to help all counties and local agencies with infrastructure improvements.  With the economy continuing to recover, CSCDA is well poised for continued growth in the coming year.

Our U.S. Communities purchasing program continues to thrive with over 25 contracts leveraging the buying power of over 90,000 governmental agencies in the nation.  This no-cost program is available to all counties, cities, special districts, and non-profits and offers the lowest government pricing on all contract items.  Contracts include everything from office supplies to fleet maintenance to furniture and much more.  ServiceWear Apparel is just one of our U.S. Communities providers and offers uniform services to local agencies with over 70,000 styles, colors, and sizes of uniform garments and over 15 million pieces of inventory in stock.  U.S. Communities offers one of the quickest ways to start seeing immediate budget savings.

Coast2Coast Rx’s prescription drug card continues to be successful among California counties.  In the last year we have seen the program grow from 16 to 26 California county endorsements.  This program requires minimal effort on the part of the county to reach out to residents with prescription drug, lab, and other medical savings.

Our deferred compensation program through Nationwide Retirement Solutions continues to innovate on ways to reach out to county employees and help plan for retirement.  Currently used by 28 California counties, Nationwide offers online interactive retirement planners and in-person retirement consultations to help make sense of the daunting world of retirement planning.

We look forward to continued success in 2013 both with our existing programs and new programs that are in development.  In the first quarter of 2013 we plan to launch both a medicare eligible reitree health program to remove the administrative burden of medicare retirees from county departments while saving resources as well as an on-site health clinic program for county employees.  Later in the year we hope to release a new solar energy retrofit program to help further streamline energy efficient infrastructure upgrades for counties.  If you would like more information on any of our programs or have any suggestions for future programs please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

The CSAC Finance Corporation Board of Directors welcomed two new members to the Board this year; Matt Cate, CSAC Executive Director, and Robert Bendorf, CAO of Yuba County.  In addition, the Board added a Board Member Emeritus designation to retain the institutional knowledge and experience of those who have previously served on the Board.  The current Board is comprised of the following individuals:

• Mark Saladino, Los Angeles County, President
• Les Brown, Public Member, Secretary/Treasurer
• Robert Bendorf, Yuba County
• Matt Cate, California State Association of Counties
• Greg Cox, San Diego County
• Mike Johnson, County Retiree
• Steve Juarez, Public Member
• Pat O’Connell, Alameda County
• Larry Spikes, Kings County
• Tom Ford, Board Member Emeritus
• Steve Swendiman, Board Member Emeritus

On behalf of the CSAC Finance Corporation Board of Directors and staff we would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year.