Merced County Funding Allocations

City of Merced awarded $4.42 Million for Homeless Veterans Housing

County budget tops $1 billion with help from ARPA funding — Merced County Times

"The Merced County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the largest budget in county history Tuesday, heralding in a financial plan in excess of $1 billion for the 2022-23 fiscal year. That’s a notable leap from the budget of $844.8 million approved for the 2021-22 fiscal year." 

                                             –Merced Sun-Star


ARPA funds can be spent on the following categories:

· Replace lost public sector revenue.

· Support the COVID-19 public health and economic response.

· Provide premium pay for eligible workers performing essential work.

· Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

The funding provided under ARPA provides a unique opportunity for state and local governments to make strategic investments in long-lived assets, rebuild reserves to enhance financial stability, and cover temporary operating shortfalls until economic conditions and operations normalize. Effective April 1, 2022, the ruling provides additional clarity and flexibility on uses, including capital expenditures, expanding public sector hiring and capacity, premium pay for essential works, and broadening eligible broadband, water and sewer infrastructure.

California Public Records Act

What is the California Public Records Act (CPRA)?

The California Public Records Act (CPRA) was passed by the California Legislature in 1968 for government agencies and requires that government records be disclosed to the public, upon request, unless there are privacy and/or public safety exemptions which would prevent doing so. Please see the California Attorney General’s Office Summary of the California Public Records Act (pdf) for additional information.

What is a Public Record? 

"Government Code §7920.530 defines a public record as “any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics."

post.ca.gov/


General Requirements

"The Public Records Act (PRA) gives you access to public records we maintain unless they’re exempt from disclosure by law. This may include written or electronic information."

Government Code 7920 et seq.    

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Additional information:

 

The Basics of The PRA 

California Public Records Act | How-To

California PRA FAQS
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When requesting public records, you can ask for a USB of the records for $5.00, otherwise it is 10 cents per page.

You should always request a fee waiver. There is no policy regarding waivers, it is at the discretion of the agency.

Veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities should request a waiver.

The Brown Act

What is The Brown Act?

"The Brown Act was enacted in 1953 to guarantee the public's right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies, and as a response to growing concerns about local government officials' practice of holding secret meetings that were not in compliance with advance public notice requirements."

https://vcrma.org/

The Ralph M. Brown Act-at-a-Glance

Summary of The Brown Act

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A Guide To Brown Act Changes Starting January 1, 2023 - Procopio

A&A: How to file a Brown Act complaint

Accessing Public Meetings

FAQs | State of California - Department of Justice, Office of Attorney General
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According to The Brown Act: Special meetings – Agenda must be posted 24 hours in advance.

Copies of agendas and other writings distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the

members of a legislative body in connection with a matter subject to discussion or

consideration at an open meeting of the body. This criteria was not met.

Criminal penalties & Civil remedies:

Criminal penalties = prosecution for misdemeanor if a member of a legislative body attends the meeting of the legislative body where action is taken in violation of any provision of this chapter and where the member intends to deprive the public of information to which the member knows or has reason to know the public is entitled under this chapter.

What are the penalties & remedies for violating the Act?

Notice & demand for cure.

1) Written demand must be made within 30 days if demand relates to agenda posting requirement and the action was taken in open session.

2) Otherwise, demand must be made within 90 days.

3) Legislative body must cure within 30 days or notify the demanding party that it will not cure.

4) Demanding party can initiate litigation to compel compliance and if successful, may be awarded attorney fees and court costs.