Ifornia Counties Grapple
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
27, nside this issue... flpf terj. The Senate is Election reform set to vote on u-c funding gets big tof I)7 ' measure to n~ IW boost in Senate. npf permanently ban See page 3. taxes on Internet Stth access. tent See page 2. Vol. 35 No. 21 ~ November 2003 10, Senate legislation NACo First fide't '"lhe wisdom provides support Vice President js to know and in diverting the the courage to invites counties un. defend the non-violent to commemorate public interest" mentally nl from Lewis & Clark ness jail. bicentennial. ~ See page 3. See page 6. l,nt, Association of Counties Washington, D.C. www.naco.ofg ~ wwwcountynews.org 850. Dear Fellow County Officia, Coj The forest fires, which were raging in California more than note a week ago, are now under controL But their damage defies imagination. An incredible toll of lives, personal property and iugh natural beauty has been consumed by the intense and unpre- 1s,t dictable flames. ring Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the people in California who are affected these terrible fires —families Jnt)f by who lost loved ones, homeowners whose homes are now ash, that and the brave and valiant fircfighters who struggled against an 'fn unbelievable foe. I pledge NACo's support in seeking federal assistance to help counties and their residents rebuild their communities. cop Karen M. Miller ',,e o I,'ach NACo President I ex Phoio eoueieey of Lou Annulus County Homeland Security County firefighter battles a portion ofthe most costly fires in Southern California's history. funding announced fireshad ifornia counties Bv DRLEN A. HRRRfs three programs are the State Home- grapple ASSOCIA TE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR land Security OrantProgram, the Law fire The U.S. Department of Home- Enforcement Terrorism Prevention th land Security (DHS) recently an- Program and Citizens Corps. In an devastating wildfires effort to streamline funding to states nounced the availability of$2.2 bil- crossed lion in grant funding from t!ie and local governments, the depart- Bi Pave M xenix Otfice of Oct. 24. "We didn't need that," during some of the heaviest fighting ment has consolidated the adminis- STAFF IVMTER ofDomestic Preparedness (ODP) to said Supervisor Linda Parks, as light- over a three-day period between Oct. enhance the abilities offirstrespond- tration of the three programs within M. Minny Monrrn "We heartedly as possible as fires were 25-27. were out ofresources. We the OfficeofDomestic Preparedness SEMOR STAFF ers to prepare, prevent, respond and IVRITER destroying her county at a pace of were stretched as much as we could recover Irom terrorist threats. (ODP). Whilecontinuing to direct the cooler temperatures and about 10 acres per hour. "But we'e be, and we did all we could do as su- The $2.2 billion will fund three State Homeland Security Program, have helped going to continue looking to see pervisors to help the firefighters keep firefightc if programs that provide resources to get a handle on the wild- there is anything we can do better in their morale," Bennett said. state and local governments. These ~ see DHS FUNDING on page 7 throughout the southern these situations. Supervisor Kathy Long was also the state, ttee counties hard- "It was pretty scary at one point out near the I'font lines. "I'egot three ~ just beginning to get a full because one ofthe th or four sets ofclothes that smell like CogntyNews Quik Takes ofthe situation. 118 Freeway and was headed toward smoke," she said. of acres have burned, Malibu, which would have opened up Luckily, few county buildings Metropolitan Middlesex-sninerset-Hunderstoa, NJ. 58.7% ofpcople are out of a lot of development threat," Parks were affected, although a facility in Areas* with (Middlesex ond lttmemel conulleo) and, all told, these recent added. "Butthe firefighters have been SimiValleywas so smoky that county Highest Snn Jose, Calif/ 580'/ cost the state more than outstanding. Itwas taking allthe crew employees working there had the op- Black (Snnln Clara Couitty) 88jggl to make sure the acms I I8 was put tion ofstaying home. 'arning 550, Nassau eluffntk, NX 573 % out. They savedpotentially thousands Ventura County has a large agri- or More (Rensoehet end Suffolk en unites) County homes." culture industry, and several county OrangeCounty, Calif. 50.0 % of A lly enough, Ventura Supervisor Steve Bennett said the out-structurcs were lost to the fire, but elionn Vnnefo-Fatrnetd, Calif., 48.3 % (Solnno nnd plans to hold an elaborate county's firefighters were exhausted )or Napa Couolies) exercise on the morning and took very few, if any, breaks ~ see INILDFIRES on page 8 XmlyrxaKmuuireere Iep77IRIIInm County News, November Senate poised to vote on Acts of Caring Awards reco Internet tax moratorium outstanding volunteer pro Bv JEEP ARvoLD and local taxes that could amount DEPInr LEGIELA77VE DIRECTOR a to an unfunded mandate on state ln 2004, NACo will again rec- and local At press time, the Senate was governments ofup to $9 ognize volunteer programs through 1 poised to vote on a series amend- billion a year." the Acts KIIIZ of ofCaring Awards, a national ments that could provide for a NACo does not oppose a per- program honoring community-based simple, temporary extension of the manent moratorium on Internet county government initiatives that ACTS current moratorium, impose a more access taxes ifit is properly writ- provide a legacy for the future. expanded definition ofthe taxes sub- ten. Sens. George Allen (R-Va.) This is the fiflhyear forthis unique ject to the moratorium(improving the and Ron Wyden (D-ore.) are the awards program. bill slightly), or pass S. 150 without chief sponsors of S.150. The awards will be presented significant amendment, which could Meanwhile in recent weeks, next year during National County embodies the spmt of volunteensm wc cost local NACo and other — governments billions of organizations Government Week, April 18 25, in by addressing a unique need. This meets the contest criteria 'e dollars. state representing and local of- a ceremony on Capitol Hill. Up to award is given to the top program in to participate. A couatJ The ac- ficiahave made moratorium on Internet gains highlighting 33 programs willbe recognized and the contest because itsets itselfapart that won an Acts of Cnitl cess taxes expired at midnight Oct. the flaws in the billand increasing deemed examples ofoutstanding Acts by providing unparalleled service in in the past two years is EIIt i 31, and telecommunications industry support for either further amend- of Caring. Based on county size, as its community. in 2004. and taxpayer groups are making in- ments, or a temporary two-year many as three programs will be The Youth Literacy Mentoring The deadline for credible claims that states and coun- extension. Last week, hundreds recognized in each of 11 categories: Award is presented to the program Jan. 16, 2004. Entries ties are e-mails and letters poised to begin imposing a of were sent Arts & Culture; Civic Education & that best addresses a community sent to NACo at 440 Pint A host oftaxes on the Internet, f'rom county officials to senators including Public Information; CriminalJustice; need for mentoring young people to Washington, DC 20001. AI individual e-mails. and the news media opposing S. Elderly Services; Emergency Man- achieve traditional or technological application is available asia This high-pressure rhetoric is 150 in its present form. agement; Environment; Health Ser- literacy. The Youth Service Award the NACoWeb site — HDI being used to secure passage of The information emphasized vices; Libraries; Parks &Recreation; is presented to the program that —and click on Awards. NACo's S.150, legislation that would not position that: Programs for Children &Youth and best identifies a critical need in the The Acts of Caring s ~ only permanently extend the Inter- federal law regarding Inter- Social Services. youth community and addresses it, Counties Serve America, add, net tax moratorium, but also expand net access should be technology Awards may be presented in in part, by engaging young people NACo project carried out'ea! it to include many existing taxes on neutral each of three population categories in service. slupwtthNanonwide Pr~ ~ telecommunications services. Sen. telephone and cable providers to ensure that large and small com- An "act of caring" is a commu- lutions. The project's goal ii Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) warned who provide services over the In- munities, and urban and rural areas nity service provided by a county- public understanding asd ) ha> of the bill's impact on state and lo- temet should not be granted special all receive the recognition they sponsored volunteer program that about county government cal governments in a speech on the tax treatment, and deserve. enhances or preserves the quality of Senate floor Oct. 22. Burton said: existing taxes should apply re- Three special awards also will life. Winners willbe selected by an For more informafion, "The bill [S. 150] has the potential gardless ofwhether telecommuni- be given. The Legacy Award for independent panel of judges. Any Tom Goodman, NACDItat to exempt telephone and cable com- cations services are delivered over Excellence and Innovation is awarded county government that is a member fairs director, at (202) panies &om a broad array of state a telephone line or the Internet. to the program that most fully ofNACowithan active program that tgoodm an@naca, org. President Karen Millergives First Quarter Report to NACo m C< Bv KEREN MILLER In addition to these meetings, I was on devolution, decentraliza- Department of Homeland Security I wanted the ivACo I Esstasttr met inColumbus, Ohio withthe CEO tion and civic participation. The Council.