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California State Association of Counties presents advocacy priorities to Solano supervisors
Summary
CSAC executive described the association’s role in Sacramento and Washington, DC, highlighted priorities including disaster response, homelessness funding timelines, water planning and election funding, and took board questions about local concerns.
The executive director of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) addressed the Solano County Board of Supervisors to describe CSAC’s role in statewide advocacy, programs the organization offers to counties, and several active policy priorities.
Graham Canalson, described in the presentation as CSAC’s CEO, told the board CSAC focuses on ensuring counties have resources, authority and flexibility to implement programs locally. He outlined CSAC’s program areas — administration of justice, government finance and administration, ag/environment and natural resources, health and human services, and housing/land use/transportation — and noted the association operates a foundation for leadership and policy development plus business activities such as a low‑cost property tax payment portal and a public‑sector real estate service.
Canalson said CSAC is working on disaster policy (preparation, response and rebuilding), housing and homelessness timelines (urging that state homelessness funds be distributed to counties within 60 days of budget enactment), water‑planning legislation that sets statewide goals for long‑term water needs, and funding for elections (noting $251 million statewide to support a special election). Supervisors raised local concerns about Delta water flows and state attempts to preempt local land‑use authority. Canalson said CSAC’s core approach is to push state and federal policymakers to set outcomes and fund them, while preserving local flexibility to implement solutions.
Supervisors thanked CSAC for technical assistance and for outreach such as webinars and leadership training; Supervisor Williams said she will follow up with staff to provide CSAC with local briefings on the county’s river and watershed concerns.
Ending CSAC and county staff plan follow‑up on water planning and land‑use preemption; CSAC staff said the association will continue to work with Solano County on statewide advocacy and technical assistance.
