GRANT AWARDS IN PAST 30 DAYS

California Consulting was recently notified that our clients were awarded the following highly competitive grants written and submitted by California Consulting grant writers:

Agape Corporation

$10,000

PG & E Grant

City of Delano

$250,000

Disaster Recovery Initiative

Coalinga-Huron Unified School District

$95,000

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District - Vehicle Purchase Program

Newman - Crows Landing Unified School District

$82,000

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District - Vehicle Purchase Program

State Superintendent Torlakson

Featured at California Consulting Event  

California Consulting, in conjunction with the California School Boards Association annual conference, hosted a reception on Wednesday, November 30 in San Diego. The reception was attended by over 75 school board members and superintendents from across California. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson spoke at the event and thanked California Consulting for their leadership role in securing grant dollars for schools across the State. Torlakson also provided an update on education related items, including a potential 2012 school bond, QEIA, and the upcoming projected State revenue numbers. Hector Chacon, a member of the Montebello Unified School Board for 18 years, gave the welcoming remarks. California Consulting Chief Operating Officer Juan Garza II said, "I am glad that State Superintendent Torlakson, as he has done in the past, was able to participate in our reception and answer questions from our guests.  He, along with our event co-hosts, made the reception a huge success for all those in attendance."  The event was hosted by California Consulting, LLC and co-hosted by San Gabriel Valley Civic Alliance Chairman Ed Rendon, Hector Chacon, and Mo Minasian.

As expected, Gov. Jerry Brown and Department of Finance (DOF) Director Ana Matosantos discussed the State's economic forecast, revenues, and the "trigger cuts" at a press conference on Tuesday, December 13. As expected, the revenue for FY 2011-12 are $2.2 billion below projections, activating some of the automatic "trigger cuts" included in the FY 2011-12 state budget. The $980 million in cuts will become effective in January and February of 2012. 

The level of reductions ultimately made to K-12 schools was far less tha expected. However, both tier I and II trigger cuts were activated. Fears were that K-12 school funding was going to be cut by $1.5 billion. K-12 funding was only cut by $79.6 million, less than expected. Tier II also included $248 in cuts to Home-to-school transportation and $72 million in cuts the California Community Colleges related to an apportionment decrease.

The $15.9 million reduction in state library funding essentially eliminates all remaining state funding for the California Library Services Act, the state literacy program, and the Public Library Foundation. The cuts will not only eliminate all state funding for local library programs but also jeopardize federal funding for the Braille and Talking Book library programs. This will add to the already $15.2 million cut to state library funding that was included as part of the budget.

The most direct impacts on cities are the cuts to libraries and the increase in county charges for youthful offender placements in Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Indirect impacts to cities will also be recognized in the increased DJJ contract costs. Currently, counties contract with the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide housing and programs for the small, and highly specialized, youthful offender population segment. Counties contract with the state because housing and programming can be too costly for the handful youthful offenders requiring supervision and services, compared to DJJ that can house and provide service more efficiently and effectively to a larger, consolidated population.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT:  ALICE LUCK

CURRENT GRANT OPPORTUNITIESFOR CITIES & SCHOOL DISTRICTS