CSAC outlines state budget, homelessness and disaster priorities to Lake County supervisors

Graham (CSAC representative) and CSAC staff told the Lake County Board of Supervisors on a presentation item that recent state budget negotiations leave counties with unresolved funding for several programs, including voter-approved changes under Proposition 36 and homelessness programs, and they urged increased local engagement with CSAC to improve outcomes.

The presentation, given by a CSAC representative identified in the meeting as Graham, focused on CSAC’s role in lifting county priorities at the state and federal level, current legislative activity affecting counties, and program services CSAC offers to help counties pursue grants and technical assistance. "You cannot deliver services for free," Graham said, arguing the state must fund new responsibilities created by Proposition 36 for behavioral health, probation and other county agencies.

The panel summarized several items of direct relevance to Lake County. Chief among them was the fiscal uncertainty around Proposition 36, the voter-approved change to the criminal justice system. CSAC said a recent legislative budget agreement includes only a modest appropriation—"just shy of $100,000,000" in CSAC's description—far less than what CSAC and county officials estimate is needed to implement the measure’s new responsibilities at the local level. Wendy Monfrance, Lake County chief probation officer, told the board the legislative proposal "ignores probation completely" and warned that probation departments in small counties already lead local implementation work and would be uncompensated if the budget remains as proposed.

CSAC also discussed homelessness funding and programs. The presenter said the state’s most-used homelessness program (referred to in the meeting as the HAP program) is being proposed at roughly half the prior annual funding level; some prior years’ appropriations were about $1 billion per year, while the legislative agreement under discussion would provide roughly $500 million. CSAC staff said the program has been funded year-to-year, which limits counties’ ability to make multiyear investments. The presenter added CSAC has developed a pilot that would better align housing and supportive services for shelters, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing and that the pilot is being moved through the Legislature.

On disaster policy, CSAC described a comprehensive proposal informed in part by Lake County’s own wildfire and disaster experience. Among the policy elements CSAC described were automatic state responses after a declared disaster (property tax relief backfilled to counties, expedited debris removal timelines intended to reduce new fire hazards, and other statutory changes to reduce legislative-by-legislative fights for emergency authority and funding). Graham said these changes are intended to reduce the administrative and fiscal burden on counties after major disasters.

The presentation also reviewed CSAC’s non-legislative services. CSAC staff described a grants program operated through CSAC’s foundation to help counties without internal capacity pursue state and federal funds, and a business arm that can assist counties with property transactions or other operational needs. Supervisors and staff expressed interest in re-engaging with CSAC’s grants program to increase Lake County participation.

Board members commented on the value of CSAC training and staff support. Several supervisors praised CSAC’s New Supervisors Institute and ongoing staff support; one supervisor said the institute provided valuable orientation, while another highlighted CSAC staff members Ryan and Mikayla as key points of contact. Public comment included a plea from Chief Probation Officer Wendy Monfrance for county leaders and CSAC to secure funding for probation to avoid unfunded mandates, and a comment from Elaine Brown, who urged greater fiscal oversight and outcome-based grant practices for homelessness spending.

No formal motions or votes were recorded on the presentation item. CSAC and board members discussed follow-up engagement: CSAC encouraged supervisors, county administrative officers, county counsel and department heads to contact CSAC staff; board members asked staff to circulate CSAC committee and staff contact information so departments can coordinate with the association.

The board’s discussion repeatedly returned to housing and CEQA reform as structural challenges that shape homelessness and housing development, and several supervisors said they will continue pressing legislators for larger ongoing funding and statutory clarity about roles and responsibilities.

The presentation closed with CSAC thanking Lake County for its engagement and describing ongoing work on state and federal fronts. The item was informational; no county action was taken during the meeting.