California Association of Counties

California Association of Counties
Name	California Association of Counties
Abbreviation	CACo
Founded	1895
Headquarters	Sacramento, California
Region served	California
Membership	58 counties

California Association of Counties is a statewide membership association representing the 58 county governments in the state of California. It serves as an advocacy organization, policy resource, and service provider linking county boards of supervisors, county executives, and county administrative offices with the California State Legislature, state agencies such as the California Department of Finance, and federal entities including the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The association interacts with intergovernmental organizations like the National Association of Counties, regional bodies such as the Association of Bay Area Governments, and scholarly institutions including the University of California, Berkeley and the Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences.

History

The association traces its roots to late 19th-century civic reform movements that coincided with political developments in San Francisco, California, Los Angeles, California, and the emerging state capital at Sacramento, California. Early gatherings of county supervisors paralleled events such as the California Gold Rush's postbellum civic consolidation and the growth of county administrations in places like Alameda County, California and Orange County, California. Over decades the organization engaged with landmark state actions, including responses to the Progressive Era (United States) reforms, interactions with agencies like the California Public Utilities Commission, and advocacy during major crises such as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake recovery era and the later Loma Prieta earthquake response. The association expanded professional services alongside the development of county programs in Los Angeles County, California, San Diego County, California, and Santa Clara County, California, and coordinated county-level responses to statewide initiatives such as the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act and the consequences of ballot measures like Proposition 13 (1978).

Organization and Governance

Governance is typically administered by an elected board composed of county supervisors drawn from jurisdictions including San Francisco County, California and Fresno County, California, with executive leadership roles filled by professionals experienced with institutions like the California State Auditor and the Legislative Analyst's Office. The association establishes committees reflecting policy domains tied to state departments such as the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Transportation. It convenes annual meetings attended by delegations from counties such as Ventura County, California, Riverside County, California, San Bernardino County, California, and Sacramento County, California, and collaborates with municipal organizations including the League of California Cities and regional consortia like the Southern California Association of Governments.

Membership and Services

Membership comprises all 58 counties, from large jurisdictions like Los Angeles County, California and San Diego County, California to smaller counties such as Alpine County, California and Inyo County, California. Services provided encompass policy briefings that reference research from the Rand Corporation, technical assistance drawn from partnerships with the California State Association of Counties Education Foundation, and training programs offered in coordination with academic partners like the California State University, Sacramento and the Claremont Graduate University. The association facilitates exchanges among county chiefs of staff, county counsels who liaise with courts such as the California Supreme Court, and public health officers who coordinate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also manages procurement cooperatives that interact with entities such as the California Department of General Services and financial instruments used by counties when issuing municipal bonds through underwriters who work with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.

Policy Advocacy and Legislative Work

The association conducts advocacy in Sacramento before the California State Legislature and the Governor of California's office, shaping legislation on issues affecting counties including public health statutes influenced by the Affordable Care Act, criminal justice reforms that intersect with decisions by the United States Supreme Court, and land use matters tied to the California Coastal Commission. It files position letters, testifies at hearings before committees such as the California Assembly Budget Committee and the California Senate Governance and Finance Committee, and engages in coalition work with statewide organizations like the California Hospital Association and labor entities including the Service Employees International Union. The association also responds to federal policy developments at agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development and files amicus briefs in cases reached by appellate courts including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs span workforce development, emergency preparedness, and technology modernization. Initiatives have included county-level emergency response coordination related to disasters such as the Camp Fire (2018) and the Thomas Fire, public health vaccination outreach in partnership with the California Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homelessness strategies aligned with plans by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, and broadband expansion projects coordinated with the California Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. The association runs leadership academies modeled after curricula from the Harvard Kennedy School, convenes policy summits with participation from think tanks like the Public Policy Institute of California, and manages data-sharing efforts using standards promoted by the National Association of Counties and the OpenGov Foundation.

Funding and Finance

Funding sources include membership dues paid by counties from budget allocations overseen by county treasurers in jurisdictions such as Marin County, California and Butte County, California, revenue from conferences that attract vendors like technology firms and consulting houses, grants from foundations including the California Endowment and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and fee-for-service contracts with state agencies such as the California Department of Social Services. Fiscal oversight aligns with standards used by county auditors who work with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and procurement practices influenced by national credit markets involving institutions like the Federal Reserve. Financial transparency is maintained through audits comparable to practices encouraged by the California State Controller.

Category:Organizations based in California