Guide to the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 -- 2007 update (pdf version). This guide, produced by the Assembly Local Government Committee includes the complete text of the LAFCo law and related sections of the Revenue and Taxation Code. It is updated with all changes in laws through 2007.
Guide to C-K-H Reorganization Act of 2000 -- 2007 update (word version -- Handy if you want to excerpt portions. (Note: this is a large document and will take time to download)

Printed copies of the 2007 edition of the Guide to the CKH Government Reorgaization Act are now available from CALAFCO. To order copies please complete the: CKH Guide Order Form.

Summary of Changes to LAFCo Law from 2001 to 2007 -- Summary of LAFCo-related legislation chaptered each year since C-K-H became law.

LAFCo 101 -- Handout from presentations introducing Local Agency Formation Commissions.

It's Time To Draw the Line: A Citizen's Guide to LAFCo 2003 (pdf)
It's Time to Draw the Line: A Citizen's Guide to LAFCo 2003 (word version -- Handy if you want to excerpt portions for a report. This is a large document)

Growth Within Bounds: Report of the Commission on Local Governance for the 21st Century (pdf). This extensive report is the result of the Commission's 16 months of work to review current statutes and recommend revisions to the laws that govern city, county, and special district formation and boundary changes, along with overall governance issues. This key report formed the basis of the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, and is a foundation for the role and function of LAFCo.

Summary of Legislative Intent in Enacting Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg (pdf)

Reinventing LAFCo: Changes Made by the Cortese-Knox-Herzberg Act (pdf). This primer for Commissioners was first distributed in March, 2001 and highlights the major changes in authority, procedures and independence contained in the new law.

LEGAL CORNER
Resource page with links to Court of Appeal and Superor Court decisions and Attorney General Opinions which affect LAFCo.

LAFCo Court Decisions and Attorney General Opinions

CALAFCO White Paper on District Extinguishments (pdf)
CALAFCO Summary of G.C. 56133: New or Extended Services Outside Jurisdictional Boundaries (pdf)
CALAFCO Report: 25 Year Summary of LAFCo Activity: 1963-1988 (pdf)

CALAFCO University Incorporations Workshop (ppt)
Slides from the workshop, including new materials presented at the workshop.

Incorporation Applications Filed or Anticipated in 2008 (pdf) UPDATED 19 February 08
CALAFCO Inventory of Pending and Potential Municipal Incorporations (pdf)
California Cities by Incorporation Date -- List of all California cities by date of incorporation (doc)

Incorporations Terms and Conditions (pdf) -- A new summary of the terms and conditions imposed on seven recent incorporations (March, 2008).

Incorporations, Annexations and the New Public Finance -- How the 2006 changes in VLF and property tax subventions affect incorporations and annexations. From the Senate Local Government Committee (Nov. 2006):
w City Incorporations and the New Public Finance (doc)
w City Annexations and the New Public Finance (doc)

Calculating the New Supplemental VLF Amounts for Incorporations and Inhabited Annexations-- From Michael Coleman at CaliforniaCityFinance.com. How to estimate the new VLF allocations for annexations and new incorporations under the 2006 legislation, AB1602 (Laird).
The VLF for Property Tax Swap of 2004: Effects on inhabited annexations and new incorporations (revised, Oct. 2006)-- From Michael Coleman at CaliforniaCityFinance.com. A more complete discussion of the VLF for property tax swap of 2004, its problematic provisions for annexations and new incorporations, and the remedies provided in the new 2006 law, AB1602.

Island Annexation Resources Exellent resource materials on island annexations (small pieces of unincorporated territory substantially surrounded by a city) are available from Santa Clara LAFCo and the City of Fontana. Visit:
w Santa Clara LAFCo Island Annexations
w Making Your City Whole: Taking Advantage of the Current Opportunity to Annex Urban Unincorporated Pockets From Santa Clara LAFCo (pdf-805 KB)
w City of Fontana Island Annexation Program

Guide to the LAFCo Process for Incorporation (pdf)
Guide to the LAFCo Process for Incorporation Appendices (pdf)

LAFCo's Challenge: Water as a Fundamental Planning Element in a Multi-Jurisdictional Planning Environment. A perspective on LAFCo water management decisions from hydrologist Robert Shibatani. This is the complete paper as highlighted in the November 2005 issue of The Sphere.

Water Rights: Supply Issues for LAFCo. Introduction to water rights and LAFCo decisions by Attorney Marsha A. Bursch. Presented at 2005 Annual Conference.

California Water Trends. 2005 Annual Conference Powerpoint presentation with an overview of water management trends from by Hydrologist Robert Shibatani and Mark Horn.

LAFCo and Water Management Decisions. An overview of the issues, roles, and responsibilities of LAFCo in making water management decisions. Developed by Executive Director Bill Chiat as an informational handout.

These fact summary sheets are prepared by the Senate Local Government Committee and provide an excellent overview of local agencies. Newly updated to reflect 2006 data.
City Fact Sheet (doc)
County Fact Sheet (doc)
Special District Fact Sheet (doc)

Revenues and Responsibilities: An Inventory of Local Tax Powers (December, 2007)
Having been asked these questions innumerable times – in innumerable ways – the staff of the Senate Local Government Committee prepared this annotated inventory of local tax powers.

Governments Working Together: A Citizen's Guide to Joint Power Agreements -- This guide from the Senate Local Government Committee discusses the authority, composition, and use of JPAs in California. (pdf - August, 2007)

Catalogue of Senate Citizen Guides -- The Senate Local Government has published a series of Citizen Guides to California local public agency processes and laws. These excellent resources cut confusion and make govenment more accessible. Eight guides are now available. 2007 Order Form.

Miss a session or couldn't attend a CALAFCO conference? Check out these handout and presentation materials in the Member's Library (some will require a member log-in):

2008 Staff Workshop Presentation Materials
2007 Conference Handout and Presentation Materials
2006 Conference Handout and Presentation Materials
2006 Staff Workshop Handout and Presentation Materials
2005 Conference Handout and Presentation Materials
2004 Conference Handout and Presentation Materials

Working With Your LAFCo: Building Strong Relationships (doc)

LAFCo 101 (ppt). The current Powerpoint presentation of this introduction to Local Agency Formation Commissions. Contains the history, overview of current law, LAFCo powers and decisions, policies and procedures, and current issues.

2008 CALAFCO Annual Event Calendar (pdf)
CALAFCO Conference and Workshop Schedule: 2008-2013

EO List Serve Discussion Topic Index - Available only to members.

CALAFCO Member Website Log In

CALAFCO Office Location, Parking and Lodging (pdf)
Office Depot Purchasing Program (pdf)
CALAFCO Achievement Award Recipients: 1997-2007 (doc)