Lake County supervisors approve submittal of several FY27 community project funding requests
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Summary
The Board of Supervisors authorized staff to resubmit multiple FY27 community project funding proposals — including regional water resiliency, reentry housing, a health training hub, Soda Bay Road work and an amended Southeast wastewater request — and discussed project readiness and geographic balance.
Lake County’s Board of Supervisors on March 6 approved resolutions to submit multiple community project funding proposals to the county’s congressional delegation and the U.S. Senate, directing staff to position a slate of previously vetted projects for FY27 consideration.
Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein told the board that Congressman Thompson and Senators Padilla and Schiff invited community project funding requests and that staff recommended resubmitting three projects previously judged competitive. “Projects submitted in FY26 were received favorably by our legislative delegation,” Rothstein said, noting that a previous first phase of the South Main/Soda Bay Road project resulted in an $850,000 allocation.
The board voted to authorize submittal of resolutions for the South Lakeport Regional Water Resiliency and Fire Protection Project; reentry housing and workforce development for people returning from incarceration; the Lake County Health Care Education and Regional Training “Heart Hub”; and the Soda Bay Road widening and resurfacing project. Supervisors also approved an amended resolution for the Southeast wastewater collection system improvements project that replaces the seventh whereas clause with language describing installation of two lift stations and headworks and raises the “not to exceed” request from $2,000,000 to $3,000,000.
Hassan Sarsour of Paragon Government Relations advised the board on competitiveness and strategy. “These projects are gonna fall between, you know, $500,000 to, you know, 2,000,000,” Sarsour said, adding that certain water-resiliency projects might tap an existing $20,000,000 authorization and that transportation projects on the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) tend to perform well.
Interim Public Works Director Lars Ewing told supervisors the South Main/Soda Bay corridor already has environmental clearances and permits and that right-of-way is secured, which strengthens its shovel-readiness. “Shovel readiness … is critical,” Ewing said, and he urged coordination on waterline work to avoid repaving a road only to tear it up later for utilities.
Several supervisors pressed for broader geographic distribution and cautioned against concentrating projects in Lakeport. One supervisor said large regional projects can take years to deliver dollars and raised concern about completing roadwork before related utilities are finalized.
The board directed staff to remain flexible in positioning projects with congressional and Senate offices and to supply additional information if federal staff express interest. The resolutions were offered and approved by voice vote; the board will forward the prioritized project list to legislative contacts for FY27 consideration.
The board’s action does not guarantee federal funding; staff cautioned that competitiveness varies by account and that further information may be requested if a project gains traction.