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SACRAMENTO — Lawmakers and tribal advocates on Wednesday questioned the impact of the 1953 Public Law 280, also known as PL 280, that transferred public safety responsibility on tribal lands from the federal government to six states, including California, without reimbursing costs.
In 1968, the law was amended to include limited federal funding for crime victims and court development.
Assembly Select Committee Chair James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Public Safety Committee Chair Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) and their members and tribal leaders participated in the roundtable.
Tribal judicial leaders, and police officials dissected how PL 280 has reduced safety on California’s reservations.
“This law has a wide-ranging impact on Indian Country relating to safety. It’s a law that had more to do with protecting non-Native people from Native Americans than protecting tribal people,” Ramos said.
Carole Goldberg, distinguished research professor of law at University of California, Los Angeles provided an overview of PL 280’s background and impact.
“Public Law 280 has a highly problematic origin story,” Goldberg said. “At the time it was enacted, the federal government was pursuing a policy known as termination, which denied Native nations’ sovereignty, disavowed the federal government’s trust responsibility for safety in tribal communities, and promoted forced assimilation of Native peoples by subjecting them to state law.”
Judge Abby Abinanti of the Yurok Tribal Court said passage of PL 280 was a “joke on all of us.”
The six “mandatory” states under PL 280 include California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin and Alaska. Ramos noted that the law has weakened tribal safety and contributed to the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, or MMIP.
“PL 280 has resulted in jurisdictional confusion, lack of trust between tribes and outside law enforcement, and a lack of resources for tribal police and courts,” Ramos said. “There’s a myth out there that all tribes are gambling tribes, but that’s not at all the case. PL 280 states rank higher in the country than other states in the number of their MMIP cases.”
Ramos said input from the roundtable will assist in refining proposed legislation to work around PL 280’s flaws.
Ramos introduced AB 2138 earlier this year which deals with policing on tribal lands. AB 2138 is expected to be heard in April.
In 1968, the law was amended to include limited federal funding for crime victims and court development.
Assembly Select Committee Chair James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Public Safety Committee Chair Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) and their members and tribal leaders participated in the roundtable.
Tribal judicial leaders, and police officials dissected how PL 280 has reduced safety on California’s reservations.
“This law has a wide-ranging impact on Indian Country relating to safety. It’s a law that had more to do with protecting non-Native people from Native Americans than protecting tribal people,” Ramos said.
Carole Goldberg, distinguished research professor of law at University of California, Los Angeles provided an overview of PL 280’s background and impact.
“Public Law 280 has a highly problematic origin story,” Goldberg said. “At the time it was enacted, the federal government was pursuing a policy known as termination, which denied Native nations’ sovereignty, disavowed the federal government’s trust responsibility for safety in tribal communities, and promoted forced assimilation of Native peoples by subjecting them to state law.”
Judge Abby Abinanti of the Yurok Tribal Court said passage of PL 280 was a “joke on all of us.”
The six “mandatory” states under PL 280 include California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin and Alaska. Ramos noted that the law has weakened tribal safety and contributed to the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, or MMIP.
“PL 280 has resulted in jurisdictional confusion, lack of trust between tribes and outside law enforcement, and a lack of resources for tribal police and courts,” Ramos said. “There’s a myth out there that all tribes are gambling tribes, but that’s not at all the case. PL 280 states rank higher in the country than other states in the number of their MMIP cases.”
Ramos said input from the roundtable will assist in refining proposed legislation to work around PL 280’s flaws.
Ramos introduced AB 2138 earlier this year which deals with policing on tribal lands. AB 2138 is expected to be heard in April.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s newest park project in Cobb has received a grant from the state.
The California State Parks announced the selection of 19 local projects that will receive grants totaling $6.7 million from the California Habitat Conservation Fund Grant Program.
California State Parks said the grants will help local agencies with the protection, restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat to maintain California’s quality of life.
Since 1990, approximately $84 million has been allocated to habitat conservation projects throughout California, California State Parks reported.
This latest round of grants includes $207,500 to go toward the acquisition of the new 13-acre park at 16540 State Highway 175 in Cobb.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors, which approved pursuing the park purchase in February 2023, unanimously approved purchasing the property for the new park for $300,000 at its Feb. 27 meeting. Board Chair Bruno Sabatier called the purchase a “milestone.”
That’s because Public Services Director Lars Ewing said the Cobb area is one of the few, if not the only, general plan areas in Lake County without a community park.
“We’re very excited about the project and very excited for the residents of the county and we’re looking forward to a successful project being developed there,” said Sedrick Mitchell, State Parks’ deputy director for community engagement.
Deputy Public Services Director Kati Galvani told Lake County News that the county applied for a second grant, that one from the state’s Land and Water Conservation Fund, at the same time but that it may not be able to accept due to more stringent timelines.
Galvani said Public Services initially had planned to use both grants to complement each other, but the seller wasn’t able to wait until 2025, which is what the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant would have required.
“Protecting California’s biodiversity is critical as approximately 40% of the estimated 5,500 plant species found in this state are found nowhere else on Earth,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero in a Monday statement. “With funding from the California Habitat Conservation Fund, local, state and nonprofit organizations can work toward California’s 30x30 initiative that seeks to protect and restore biodiversity, expand public access to nature, and mitigate and build resilience to climate change.”
State Parks’ Office of Grant and Local Services, or OGALS, conducted a competitive review process which is funded by the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990, or Proposition 117.
The state said the Prop 17 grant program includes seven subcategories: Deer and mountain habitat; wetlands; trail; riparian habitat; wildlife area activities; rare, endangered, threatened, or fully protected species habitat; and anadromous salmonids and trout habitat.
OGALS develops grant programs to provide funding statewide for local, state, and nonprofit organization projects. Since 1964, more than 7,400 local parks throughout California have been created or improved through OGALS’ grant funding. Since 2000, OGALS has administered over $3.8 billion in grant funding throughout California.
The full list of grants follows.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
Riparian habitat
Hayward: Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, Sulphur Creek Restoration at D and Clay Park, $597,000. Restore a riparian habitat on 4.25 acres by managing non-invasive plants, cleaning the site and creek, installing habitat enhancement features, stabilizing the creek bank, carrying out riparian plantings and re-vegetation.
Wildlife area activities
Oakland: City of Oakland Department of Parks and Recreation and Youth Development, Welcome to Wildlife: Oakland Youth Outdoors, $200,000. Expand the Welcome to Wildlife: Oakland Youth Outdoor program in Peralta Hacienda Historical Park. Educate participating youth on the East Bay’s flora, fauna, concept of ecological change, wildlife and habitats, connection to the natural world, and introduce them to the region’s parks.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY
Wildlife area activities
Eureka: City of Eureka, Camp Cooper Environment Education Camp, $126,257. Provide an eight-week Outdoor Environmental Education Summer Camp with an emphasis on environmental stewardship, wildlife habitats, conservation, and interpretation for youth ages 5-12 over a four-year period at Cooper Gulch Park.
Trails
Fortuna: City of Fortuna, Vancil Community Forest, $171,000. Acquire approximately 6.25 acres to link together Rohner Park and Vancil Reservoir to create a contiguous forested area with trails.
LAKE COUNTY
Trails
Cobb: County of Lake, Cobb Community Park and Trail, $207,500. Acquire approximately 12.88 acres to create the new Cobb Community Park with a defined trail system.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Wildlife area activities
Glendale: City of Glendale, Nature Education Program, $336,250. Provide a weekly outdoor education program during summer months and school breaks.
Trails
San Pedro: County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, Friendship Park Trail Enhancements and Signage Project, $200,000: Construct 1,160 linear feet of new trail, improve 950 linear feet of an existing ADA trail, decommission multiple user-created trails throughout the park, and install interpretive signage and trail counters within Friendship Park.
ORANGE COUNTY
Trails
Huntington Beach: City of Huntington Beach, Shipley Nature Trail Restoration Project, $383,309. Create 850 feet of new trail to complete a loop trail and construct new interpretive signage.
PLACER COUNTY
Trails
Tahoe Vista: North Tahoe Public Utilities District, North Tahoe Trail Access Improvement Project, $1,029,005. Construction of one-quarter mile of trail with stairway to extend the Pam Emmerich Memorial Pinedrop Trail.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Trails
Moreno Valley: City of Moreno Valley, Equestrian Park & Nature Center Trail Enhancements, $122,500: Renovate 750 linear feet of trails, construct two new restrooms, and install solar lighting, informational kiosks, horse troughs, seating areas, and a shade structure with seating area.
Wildlife area activities
Riverside: Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space, Knee High Naturalists, $184,552: Provide a series of parent and toddler environmental education classes to showcase the natural wonders within Hidden Valley Wildlife Area.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Trails
Carpinteria: City of Carpinteria, Carpinteria Bluffs II Trail Segment, $183,438: Construct a new section of 500 linear feet of trail that will extend the Carpinteria Coastal Vista Trail.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Trails
Rancho Cucamonga: City of Rancho Cucamonga, Cucamonga Canyon Land Conservation, $1,000,000: Acquire 122.09 acres of land at the foothills of the mountains, known as the King Family Trust, for conservation.
SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY
Wetlands
San Francisco: City and County of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, India Basin Shoreline Park Living Shoreline, $756,728. Restore and enhance existing wetlands by contouring the shoreline, planting over 13,000 square feet of mid and high marsh zones, and constructing a pedestrian path and overlook bridge that will provide access into the marsh.
Wildlife area activities
San Francisco: City and County of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Greenager Program, $200,000. Engage teens from underserved communities in the southeast and northeast sections of San Francisco with service-learning projects through the city’s parks and wildlife areas, as well as provide opportunities to become stewards and advocates for environmental change.
San Francisco: City and County of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Youth Stewardship Program, $200,000. Engage K-12 students in environmental education and service-learning projects throughout San Francisco’s parks and open spaces.
SOLANO COUNTY
Wetlands
Vacaville: City of Vacaville, Peña Adobe Park Pond Restoration, $100,000. Restoration and enhancement of the lining, filtration, and aeration of the pond, enhancing the vegetation, improving the wildlife habitat, and creating access to the pond.
SONOMA COUNTY
Deer and mountain lion habitat
Santa Rosa: County of Sonoma, McCormick Ranch Acquisition Phase 2, $650,000. Acquire approximately 197.52 acres of McCormick Ranch to protect the wildlife corridors and the Columbian black-tailed deer and mountain lion habitats.
Trails
Sonoma: City of Sonoma, Sonoma Overlooks Trail Rehabilitation, $91,634: Renovate the Sonoma Overlook Trail and add retaining walls.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The California State Parks announced the selection of 19 local projects that will receive grants totaling $6.7 million from the California Habitat Conservation Fund Grant Program.
California State Parks said the grants will help local agencies with the protection, restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat to maintain California’s quality of life.
Since 1990, approximately $84 million has been allocated to habitat conservation projects throughout California, California State Parks reported.
This latest round of grants includes $207,500 to go toward the acquisition of the new 13-acre park at 16540 State Highway 175 in Cobb.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors, which approved pursuing the park purchase in February 2023, unanimously approved purchasing the property for the new park for $300,000 at its Feb. 27 meeting. Board Chair Bruno Sabatier called the purchase a “milestone.”
That’s because Public Services Director Lars Ewing said the Cobb area is one of the few, if not the only, general plan areas in Lake County without a community park.
“We’re very excited about the project and very excited for the residents of the county and we’re looking forward to a successful project being developed there,” said Sedrick Mitchell, State Parks’ deputy director for community engagement.
Deputy Public Services Director Kati Galvani told Lake County News that the county applied for a second grant, that one from the state’s Land and Water Conservation Fund, at the same time but that it may not be able to accept due to more stringent timelines.
Galvani said Public Services initially had planned to use both grants to complement each other, but the seller wasn’t able to wait until 2025, which is what the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant would have required.
“Protecting California’s biodiversity is critical as approximately 40% of the estimated 5,500 plant species found in this state are found nowhere else on Earth,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero in a Monday statement. “With funding from the California Habitat Conservation Fund, local, state and nonprofit organizations can work toward California’s 30x30 initiative that seeks to protect and restore biodiversity, expand public access to nature, and mitigate and build resilience to climate change.”
State Parks’ Office of Grant and Local Services, or OGALS, conducted a competitive review process which is funded by the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990, or Proposition 117.
The state said the Prop 17 grant program includes seven subcategories: Deer and mountain habitat; wetlands; trail; riparian habitat; wildlife area activities; rare, endangered, threatened, or fully protected species habitat; and anadromous salmonids and trout habitat.
OGALS develops grant programs to provide funding statewide for local, state, and nonprofit organization projects. Since 1964, more than 7,400 local parks throughout California have been created or improved through OGALS’ grant funding. Since 2000, OGALS has administered over $3.8 billion in grant funding throughout California.
The full list of grants follows.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
Riparian habitat
Hayward: Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, Sulphur Creek Restoration at D and Clay Park, $597,000. Restore a riparian habitat on 4.25 acres by managing non-invasive plants, cleaning the site and creek, installing habitat enhancement features, stabilizing the creek bank, carrying out riparian plantings and re-vegetation.
Wildlife area activities
Oakland: City of Oakland Department of Parks and Recreation and Youth Development, Welcome to Wildlife: Oakland Youth Outdoors, $200,000. Expand the Welcome to Wildlife: Oakland Youth Outdoor program in Peralta Hacienda Historical Park. Educate participating youth on the East Bay’s flora, fauna, concept of ecological change, wildlife and habitats, connection to the natural world, and introduce them to the region’s parks.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY
Wildlife area activities
Eureka: City of Eureka, Camp Cooper Environment Education Camp, $126,257. Provide an eight-week Outdoor Environmental Education Summer Camp with an emphasis on environmental stewardship, wildlife habitats, conservation, and interpretation for youth ages 5-12 over a four-year period at Cooper Gulch Park.
Trails
Fortuna: City of Fortuna, Vancil Community Forest, $171,000. Acquire approximately 6.25 acres to link together Rohner Park and Vancil Reservoir to create a contiguous forested area with trails.
LAKE COUNTY
Trails
Cobb: County of Lake, Cobb Community Park and Trail, $207,500. Acquire approximately 12.88 acres to create the new Cobb Community Park with a defined trail system.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Wildlife area activities
Glendale: City of Glendale, Nature Education Program, $336,250. Provide a weekly outdoor education program during summer months and school breaks.
Trails
San Pedro: County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, Friendship Park Trail Enhancements and Signage Project, $200,000: Construct 1,160 linear feet of new trail, improve 950 linear feet of an existing ADA trail, decommission multiple user-created trails throughout the park, and install interpretive signage and trail counters within Friendship Park.
ORANGE COUNTY
Trails
Huntington Beach: City of Huntington Beach, Shipley Nature Trail Restoration Project, $383,309. Create 850 feet of new trail to complete a loop trail and construct new interpretive signage.
PLACER COUNTY
Trails
Tahoe Vista: North Tahoe Public Utilities District, North Tahoe Trail Access Improvement Project, $1,029,005. Construction of one-quarter mile of trail with stairway to extend the Pam Emmerich Memorial Pinedrop Trail.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Trails
Moreno Valley: City of Moreno Valley, Equestrian Park & Nature Center Trail Enhancements, $122,500: Renovate 750 linear feet of trails, construct two new restrooms, and install solar lighting, informational kiosks, horse troughs, seating areas, and a shade structure with seating area.
Wildlife area activities
Riverside: Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space, Knee High Naturalists, $184,552: Provide a series of parent and toddler environmental education classes to showcase the natural wonders within Hidden Valley Wildlife Area.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Trails
Carpinteria: City of Carpinteria, Carpinteria Bluffs II Trail Segment, $183,438: Construct a new section of 500 linear feet of trail that will extend the Carpinteria Coastal Vista Trail.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Trails
Rancho Cucamonga: City of Rancho Cucamonga, Cucamonga Canyon Land Conservation, $1,000,000: Acquire 122.09 acres of land at the foothills of the mountains, known as the King Family Trust, for conservation.
SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY
Wetlands
San Francisco: City and County of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, India Basin Shoreline Park Living Shoreline, $756,728. Restore and enhance existing wetlands by contouring the shoreline, planting over 13,000 square feet of mid and high marsh zones, and constructing a pedestrian path and overlook bridge that will provide access into the marsh.
Wildlife area activities
San Francisco: City and County of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Greenager Program, $200,000. Engage teens from underserved communities in the southeast and northeast sections of San Francisco with service-learning projects through the city’s parks and wildlife areas, as well as provide opportunities to become stewards and advocates for environmental change.
San Francisco: City and County of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Youth Stewardship Program, $200,000. Engage K-12 students in environmental education and service-learning projects throughout San Francisco’s parks and open spaces.
SOLANO COUNTY
Wetlands
Vacaville: City of Vacaville, Peña Adobe Park Pond Restoration, $100,000. Restoration and enhancement of the lining, filtration, and aeration of the pond, enhancing the vegetation, improving the wildlife habitat, and creating access to the pond.
SONOMA COUNTY
Deer and mountain lion habitat
Santa Rosa: County of Sonoma, McCormick Ranch Acquisition Phase 2, $650,000. Acquire approximately 197.52 acres of McCormick Ranch to protect the wildlife corridors and the Columbian black-tailed deer and mountain lion habitats.
Trails
Sonoma: City of Sonoma, Sonoma Overlooks Trail Rehabilitation, $91,634: Renovate the Sonoma Overlook Trail and add retaining walls.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Public Health is raising awareness regarding the concerning increase in rates of Hepatitis C within the community.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus, or HCV, primarily transmitted through exposure to infected blood.
This increase highlights the importance of education, prevention, and access to testing and treatment services.
Hepatitis C can be transmitted through various means, including sharing needles, syringes, or other drug paraphernalia, needle-stick injuries in health care settings, or through birth from an infected mother.
Less commonly, transmission can occur through sharing personal care items that may have come into contact with infected blood or through unprotected sexual contact, particularly in individuals with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.
Hepatitis C is a serious health concern that requires immediate attention. It can range from acute to chronic infection, potentially leading to long-term health complications if left untreated.
Therefore, it is crucial for individuals to be aware of the risks, get tested, and seek appropriate care.
Testing for Hepatitis C is recommended for individuals who may have been exposed to the virus, especially those with a history of injection drug use, healthcare workers at risk of needle-stick injuries, or individuals born to mothers with Hepatitis C.
Early detection allows for timely intervention and treatment, which can significantly improve health outcomes.
If you test positive for Hepatitis C, it's important to contact your doctor promptly. Additional testing may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis and assess the extent of liver damage.
Fortunately, Hepatitis C can now be cured for most people in as little as 8 to 12 weeks with minimal side effects.
National guidelines recommend treatment for nearly everyone diagnosed with Hepatitis C, regardless of drug use or recovery status.
Treatment not only cures the infection but also reduces the risk of transmission to others.
Lake County Public Health encourages community members to prioritize their health by seeking testing and, if necessary, treatment for Hepatitis C.
Furthermore, individuals are urged to adopt preventive measures, such as practicing safe injection practices, using barrier methods during sexual activity, and avoiding sharing personal care items that may carry bloodborne pathogens.
For more information on Hepatitis C testing, treatment, and prevention resources, please contact Lake County Public Health at 707-263-1090.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus, or HCV, primarily transmitted through exposure to infected blood.
This increase highlights the importance of education, prevention, and access to testing and treatment services.
Hepatitis C can be transmitted through various means, including sharing needles, syringes, or other drug paraphernalia, needle-stick injuries in health care settings, or through birth from an infected mother.
Less commonly, transmission can occur through sharing personal care items that may have come into contact with infected blood or through unprotected sexual contact, particularly in individuals with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.
Hepatitis C is a serious health concern that requires immediate attention. It can range from acute to chronic infection, potentially leading to long-term health complications if left untreated.
Therefore, it is crucial for individuals to be aware of the risks, get tested, and seek appropriate care.
Testing for Hepatitis C is recommended for individuals who may have been exposed to the virus, especially those with a history of injection drug use, healthcare workers at risk of needle-stick injuries, or individuals born to mothers with Hepatitis C.
Early detection allows for timely intervention and treatment, which can significantly improve health outcomes.
If you test positive for Hepatitis C, it's important to contact your doctor promptly. Additional testing may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis and assess the extent of liver damage.
Fortunately, Hepatitis C can now be cured for most people in as little as 8 to 12 weeks with minimal side effects.
National guidelines recommend treatment for nearly everyone diagnosed with Hepatitis C, regardless of drug use or recovery status.
Treatment not only cures the infection but also reduces the risk of transmission to others.
Lake County Public Health encourages community members to prioritize their health by seeking testing and, if necessary, treatment for Hepatitis C.
Furthermore, individuals are urged to adopt preventive measures, such as practicing safe injection practices, using barrier methods during sexual activity, and avoiding sharing personal care items that may carry bloodborne pathogens.
For more information on Hepatitis C testing, treatment, and prevention resources, please contact Lake County Public Health at 707-263-1090.
A new report gives a picture of the state’s resources as it faces a budget shortfall.
State Controller Malia M. Cohen has issued the state’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, or ACFR, for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2022, showing General Fund revenues of $199.2 billion, a $2.2 billion or 1.1 percent increase compared to the prior year.
General Fund revenues from personal income taxes were $123.3 billion, a $6.2 billion or 4.8 percent decrease from prior fiscal year revenues.
General Fund revenues from sales and use taxes of $32.8 billion increased by nearly $3.7 billion, or 12.6 percent from the prior year, primarily due to the rebound of retail sales activities in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Corporation taxes were $35.8 billion and increased by nearly $3.7 billion, or 11.5 percent from the prior year, due to a continued growth in retail sales and investments consistent with the prior year’s upsurge.
The state ended the fiscal year with a $74 billion General Fund balance, a $98 million decrease from the prior year’s ending fund balance.
This balance included $20.3 billion restricted for budget stabilization if the governor must declare a budget emergency during an economic crisis.
The state’s general revenues increased by $6.6 billion, or 2.9 percent, over the prior year. For the fiscal year, the state’s revenue exceeded expenses by $18.8 billion for governmental activities.
California had a net pension liability of $47.9 billion as of June 30, 2022 for governmental activities. The state had nearly $239.7 billion in total long-term obligations including bonds, pensions, loans, and leases.
This is the fifth consecutive ACFR that has been published late due to ongoing challenges in receiving financial statements from state departments and audited opinions from the California State Auditor.
The California State Auditor issued modified opinions on several components of the state’s basic financial statements because of these ongoing challenges.
Thanks to resources made available by the Legislature and Governor in the 2023-24 Budget, the State Controller’s Office is aggressively working toward its goal of publishing an on-time fiscal 2024-25 ACFR by March 2026.
The State Controller’s Office has moved quickly to permanently hire 13 new staff members with more in progress, bring in consultants, address technology needs, improve business processes, and compile resources that will assist departments with quickly responding to and resolving accounting issues.
“As my office continues to make meaningful progress toward restoring the timely issuance of this critical report, I remain grateful for the collaboration and support of the Legislature, the Governor’s administration and state department leaders, and control agencies in this effort,” said Controller Cohen.
The ACFR is prepared by the Controller’s team each year, adheres to generally accepted accounting principles and follows guidance from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, or GASB.
Independently audited by the California State Auditor, the ACFR allows for apples-to-apples comparisons between entities and provides valuable financial information to the public, financial experts, and investors.
As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Cohen is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds.
State Controller Malia M. Cohen has issued the state’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, or ACFR, for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2022, showing General Fund revenues of $199.2 billion, a $2.2 billion or 1.1 percent increase compared to the prior year.
General Fund revenues from personal income taxes were $123.3 billion, a $6.2 billion or 4.8 percent decrease from prior fiscal year revenues.
General Fund revenues from sales and use taxes of $32.8 billion increased by nearly $3.7 billion, or 12.6 percent from the prior year, primarily due to the rebound of retail sales activities in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Corporation taxes were $35.8 billion and increased by nearly $3.7 billion, or 11.5 percent from the prior year, due to a continued growth in retail sales and investments consistent with the prior year’s upsurge.
The state ended the fiscal year with a $74 billion General Fund balance, a $98 million decrease from the prior year’s ending fund balance.
This balance included $20.3 billion restricted for budget stabilization if the governor must declare a budget emergency during an economic crisis.
The state’s general revenues increased by $6.6 billion, or 2.9 percent, over the prior year. For the fiscal year, the state’s revenue exceeded expenses by $18.8 billion for governmental activities.
California had a net pension liability of $47.9 billion as of June 30, 2022 for governmental activities. The state had nearly $239.7 billion in total long-term obligations including bonds, pensions, loans, and leases.
This is the fifth consecutive ACFR that has been published late due to ongoing challenges in receiving financial statements from state departments and audited opinions from the California State Auditor.
The California State Auditor issued modified opinions on several components of the state’s basic financial statements because of these ongoing challenges.
Thanks to resources made available by the Legislature and Governor in the 2023-24 Budget, the State Controller’s Office is aggressively working toward its goal of publishing an on-time fiscal 2024-25 ACFR by March 2026.
The State Controller’s Office has moved quickly to permanently hire 13 new staff members with more in progress, bring in consultants, address technology needs, improve business processes, and compile resources that will assist departments with quickly responding to and resolving accounting issues.
“As my office continues to make meaningful progress toward restoring the timely issuance of this critical report, I remain grateful for the collaboration and support of the Legislature, the Governor’s administration and state department leaders, and control agencies in this effort,” said Controller Cohen.
The ACFR is prepared by the Controller’s team each year, adheres to generally accepted accounting principles and follows guidance from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, or GASB.
Independently audited by the California State Auditor, the ACFR allows for apples-to-apples comparisons between entities and provides valuable financial information to the public, financial experts, and investors.
As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Cohen is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds.
From football to baseball, gymnastics to tennis, more young athletes are becoming sports specialists. They join expensive sports clubs or youth leagues and devote themselves to a single sport all year long. But Nirav Pandya, a professor of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at the University of California San Francisco, says there are risks when kids specialize, including an increased possibility of injury and a high burnout rate.
The Conversation has collaborated with SciLine to bring you highlights from the discussion, which have been edited for brevity and clarity.
What trends do you see related to kids and sports participation?
Nirav Pandya: We’re seeing a tremendous number of kids who are participating in sports outside of the school setting.
And kids are specializing in sports at younger ages. Six-, 7-, 8- and 9-year-olds are playing one sport year-round to the exclusion of other sports.
What are the outcomes for kids who specialize?
Nirav Pandya: When kids specialize, they have a significantly increased risk of injury.
We also know 70% of kids will drop out of sports by age 13 if they specialize.
Also, in the long term, kids who specialize in a single sport perform less well in that sport and in all sports in general than kids who play more than one. So once again, we’re really hurting kids from multiple different levels if they’re specializing.
What is the relationship between sports specialization and injuries?
Nirav Pandya: There’s a tremendous increase in traumatic injuries. ACL tears used to be something we’d see in 17-, 18-, 19-year-olds. Now, 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds get them. The rate of ACL injuries has gone up 12% over the last decade in this adolescent age group.
Based on my experience as a clinician, kids are also getting overuse injuries like knee pain and shoulder pain from doing too much of the same activity again and again.
Are clubs and leagues costly?
Nirav Pandya: The Aspen Institute has shown that families will spend, on average, about $1,000 per year for these travel or private club sports. That’s a big financial burden for a lot of families.
In addition, the reason why a lot of families are doing this is because they want their kids to get a college scholarship. Colleges are very expensive, and parents think if their child specializes in a sport and plays on these club teams, they can get to that level.
What families don’t understand is that the average four-year college scholarship amount is only $14,000. And of all the kids playing sports, only 2% of them are actually going to get a college scholarship.
Is this mainly a problem for the rich?
Nirav Pandya: You have one group of kids who have access to sports because their families have the money and those kids are getting injured. And then you have another group of kids whose families don’t have the money to participate, and therefore there isn’t really an outlet for them to be physically active because school funding is going down. Recreational programs don’t exist. So then those kids get the problems of diabetes, obesity and hypertension, and they carry that into adulthood.
What can parents do to ensure their kids have a healthy relationship with sports?
Nirav Pandya: It’s important for parents to understand the data. And that’s our role as physical therapists, athletic trainers and coaches – to understand that data and give it to parents.
I think the second thing is also not to feel the pressure to enter the youth sports complex, a US$15.3 billion industry. Instead, donate to a community organization that is funding recreational sports, or try to push for your school to have those opportunities for your kids.
And finally, if your child is going to be playing travel sports or year-round sports, the parents should look at the websites of the club. Are they promoting kids to be healthy and active in a safe environment, or are they promoting kids to get a scholarship?
Watch the full interview to hear more.
SciLine is a free service based at the nonprofit American Association for the Advancement of Science that helps journalists include scientific evidence and experts in their news stories.
Nirav Pandya, Associate Professor, Pediatric Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council will meet this week to discuss taking actions in support of a housing developer’s applicant for grant funding and a municipal code update to support an increase in fire district mitigation fees.
The council will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 21, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, for a closed session for a performance evaluation of City Manager Alan Flora and discussion of a claim against the city before the regular meeting starts at 6 p.m.
The agenda can be found here.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. The pass code is 064363. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,84845472024#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 253-205-0468.
Under business, council members will consider a resolution supporting the application of Chelsea Investment for the HOME Investment Partnerships Grant Program for development of affordable housing at 15837 18th Ave.
The project in question is on a property the county of Lake traded to the state in exchange for the former Lakeport Armory, which is slated to become the new headquarters of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Chelsea Investments, the developer the state selected for the project, wants to build an 80-unit project but the staff report said the developer has “struggled to complete the funding stack needed to begin construction and is looking to apply for $10 million in HOME funds to fill part of
the gap. The City would be the applicant for the funds on behalf of the project and Chelsea Investment.”
Also on Thursday, the council will hold a public hearing to consider Clearlake Municipal Code section updates to modify Lake County Fire Protection District fire mitigation fees and set the first reading on April 4.
The council also will receive presentations on March's Adoptable Dogs and the annual report from the Lake County Public, Education, and Government Channel, or PEG TV.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants, minutes of the Feb. 14 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting, authorization for the police chief to dispose of three vehicles through a
dismantler, sell one vehicle at auction and adopt Resolution No. 2024-12, the Clearlake Waste Solutions 2022 Annual Solid Waste and Recycling Report and adoption of Resolution 2024-13 approving an amendment to the standard agreement issued under the 2020 Community Development Block Grant Program Coronavirus Response.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The council will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 21, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, for a closed session for a performance evaluation of City Manager Alan Flora and discussion of a claim against the city before the regular meeting starts at 6 p.m.
The agenda can be found here.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. The pass code is 064363. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,84845472024#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 253-205-0468.
Under business, council members will consider a resolution supporting the application of Chelsea Investment for the HOME Investment Partnerships Grant Program for development of affordable housing at 15837 18th Ave.
The project in question is on a property the county of Lake traded to the state in exchange for the former Lakeport Armory, which is slated to become the new headquarters of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Chelsea Investments, the developer the state selected for the project, wants to build an 80-unit project but the staff report said the developer has “struggled to complete the funding stack needed to begin construction and is looking to apply for $10 million in HOME funds to fill part of
the gap. The City would be the applicant for the funds on behalf of the project and Chelsea Investment.”
Also on Thursday, the council will hold a public hearing to consider Clearlake Municipal Code section updates to modify Lake County Fire Protection District fire mitigation fees and set the first reading on April 4.
The council also will receive presentations on March's Adoptable Dogs and the annual report from the Lake County Public, Education, and Government Channel, or PEG TV.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants, minutes of the Feb. 14 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting, authorization for the police chief to dispose of three vehicles through a
dismantler, sell one vehicle at auction and adopt Resolution No. 2024-12, the Clearlake Waste Solutions 2022 Annual Solid Waste and Recycling Report and adoption of Resolution 2024-13 approving an amendment to the standard agreement issued under the 2020 Community Development Block Grant Program Coronavirus Response.
Email Elizabeth Larson at