Riverside County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Riverside County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Executive Director Employment Agreement
WRCOG's new top executive, Chris Gray, will earn $295,000 a year plus car allowance, full health premiums, and a three-month severance floor. It's the region's top administrative hire, and the terms were finalized in closed session before the public vote.
LAFCO Staff Salary Adjustments
A market study found most LAFCO staff salaries below comparable agencies, so the commission updated pay ranges for seven positions to recruit and retain staff. Actual raises need county sign-off in November.
Perfect federal triennial review
The state-required audit found RCTC compliant with all regulations but issued recommendations to transit operators, from fare studies to maintenance facilities. One commissioner questioned whether basic operational items need audit nudges.
First state lobbying contract
RCTC's advocacy got harmful language stripped from state transit funding bills and continues pushing to restore federal STBG/CMAQ funding distributions. A $25 million federal grant was also secured for the 91 Eastbound corridor.
Executive Director Appointment
WRCOG's top job is in transition: Christopher Gray is now the interim executive director with a $289,000 agreement, and the deputy executive director got a $15,000 bonus. This shapes who runs the regional agency's day-to-day work for member cities.
November 2026 ballot measures
The half-cent transportation sales tax that funds freeways, local road repairs, and transit would continue at the current rate — no increase — and go to voters this November. It could bring roughly $11.8 billion over a 30-year horizon, with a new Taxpayer Oversight Committee added for accountability. One commissioner voted no.
LCTOP Cycle B transit funding allocations
About $3.1 million in state cap-and-invest transit money is being distributed to Riverside County transit operators, with the largest share going to free or discounted fare programs riders actually use. The full Commission still has to approve it, and Caltrans must sign off by October 30.
City of Banning fiscal emergency and fee waiver denial
Banning asked to skip its $10,000 LAFCO fee amid a fiscal crisis involving a roughly $14 million hole from utility fund transfers. The commission said no, worried about precedent — but the discussion flagged serious service cuts, including 92% of parks and rec and senior services, and raised questions for Banning's upcoming municipal service review.
FY 2026-27 LAFCO Budget and Agency Share Increase
LAFCO's proposed budget is about $1.7 million, up only $24,000 from this year, with the share paid by the county, cities and special districts rising 6.7% instead of a projected 17%. A new local government analyst position is planned for the second quarter as workload grows and the executive officer prepares to retire.
Treasurer-Tax Collector investment and excess proceeds practices
A frequent critic questioned the county's roughly $16 billion investment portfolio and objected to how excess proceeds from tax sales are distributed, alleging the tax collector profits from the process — an assertion the board flatly rejected.
Ten new HR analyst positions
The board approved roughly $1.63 million this year to add ten HR analysts, partly a response to workplace-concern handling flagged in the grand jury review. One resident objected to the recurring cost.
County successor agency bond refinancing savings
The county's 2025 bonds refinanced older debt, saving $11.6 million over the life of the bonds. The new debt service line item required a separate vote on the annual payment schedule.
Indian Wells tax allocation bond refunding
Indian Wells wants to refinance part of its 2015 and 2016 redevelopment bonds to save about $1.9 million in debt service. The savings mostly go to school districts and the county, not the city itself.
Sole-source contract for PACE legal services
The committee approved keeping Best Best & Krieger on as PACE legal counsel through 2031 without competitive bidding, after two prior RFPs drew no real competition. One member pushed back on the fairness of the process.
C-PACE Bond Capacity Increase
WRCOG raised the ceiling on commercial PACE financing from $580 million to $780 million. These are limited-obligation bonds paid back by commercial property owners through property tax assessments — not general taxpayer debt. A growing pipeline of large clean-energy and seismic retrofit projects drove the increase.
Metrolink operating budget shortfall and service reductions
Metrolink is staring down a $35 million deficit and has already cut service about 20%, with deeper cuts possible in October. RCTC approved $10 million to keep first-quarter funding whole, and staff will return in September with a full-year plan.
State Transit Funding Outlook
Redistricting splits RTA's service area across seven congressional districts instead of four, complicating federal funding requests. Worse, the federal Low-No emission bus grant program may shrink or disappear just as California requires zero-emission buses — a potential budget squeeze for RTA's clean fleet plans.
New policy for helping cities deliver their own projects
RCTC formalized how it takes on project delivery work for cities and other agencies — each project gets its own cooperative agreement and the partner reimburses all costs, keeping it cost-neutral for RCTC.
Seventh-cycle housing element update
The county is starting its next eight-year housing element, re-evaluating a roughly 40,000-unit regional housing obligation, and pursuing the state's Pro Housing designation to boost competitiveness for affordable housing grants.
Rising Construction Costs and Tariffs
AGC's chief economist warned that construction input costs are up 7.5% year over year, California diesel is up 34%, and steel/aluminum tariffs near 50% will push future bid prices sharply higher — meaning RCTC projects will cost more.
2026-2027 Assessment Roll
Property values across the county rose 5.18% to $483.98 billion. Homeowners who think they're overassessed can file a free decline-in-value review by November 1 or a formal appeal by November 30.
State and federal legislative advocacy
RCTC pulled its Coachella Valley Rail CEQA bill after committee resistance, fought bills threatening local control and flexible funding, and is chasing $18 million in federal earmarks for the 91 ECOP and a Mead Valley Metrolink station.
Discontinuation of French Valley satellite meeting location
The French Valley satellite meeting spot for this committee is being discontinued after nearly two years of zero use by commissioners or the public. Meetings will only be held at the main location.
SB 1312 — abandoned cemeteries bill
A state bill on abandoned cemeteries could affect how cemetery district formations and annexations work. CALAFCO switched to opposing the bill as amended because its three requested technical fixes weren't included.
Wentworth Facility Renovation
RTA is spending $6.85 million to upgrade its Hemet-area bus facility so it can take over fixed-route bus operations from a contractor. The project adds a two-story office building, maintenance bays, and safety systems.
Forensic audit authority and funding
LAFCO has legal power to order forensic audits of public agencies but has never budgeted for one. Commissioners sent the policy question to the Administrative Review Committee, with cost concerns on the table — a single audit can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars paid by member agencies.
FY 2026/27 Proposed Budget
RCTC's proposed $1.1 billion budget spends about $23.7 million more than it takes in, drawing down reserves saved for big projects like grade separations and the SR-79 realignment. Measure A sales tax revenue is projected flat at $280 million while toll revenues rise 9%.
Perris tax allocation refunding bonds, Series 2026
Perris is refinancing its 2015A and 2015B redevelopment bonds to save roughly $1.7 million. The savings go to Perris-area school districts, the city's general fund, and the county.
Development review near Hemet-Ryan, French Valley, March ARB, and Bermuda Dunes airports
Four projects near four different airports cleared their airport-safety review in one morning. The reviews control how many people can be in buildings near runways and how stormwater basins are designed so they don't attract birds.
FY 2026/2027 Agency Budget
The committee set the guiding goals for next year's transportation budget — quality of life, operational excellence, connecting the economy, and being a responsible partner. The full budget comes back for adoption in June.
County Workforce Vacancies and Recruitment
The county's vacancy rate improved to 16% from 19%, with hiring time cut to 40 days versus a 130-day national average. Supervisors pressed HR on difficulty recruiting for desert-area positions like the Blythe community center and Lake Coeira pool.
County Counsel reappointment
In closed session, supervisors unanimously reappointed County Counsel Minh Tran to a four-year term with a 3% raise.
Updated Employee Personnel Policies
WRCOG is switching employees to a combined paid time off system and finally enforcing leave caps. About a quarter of staff are over the new caps, triggering a one-time payout of roughly $450,000 from the General Fund — a cost that stems from years of unenforced caps.
Toscana Debt Early Payoff Debate
Staff proposed paying $12.6 million to retire the Toscana property notes a year early, saving about $140,000 in interest. Board members pushed back, noting the agency earns 3.8% on investments while paying only 2.25% on the loan, and questioned whether the note even allows prepayment. The board approved the budget without the prepayment.
Declining Development Fee Revenue (LDMF/TUMF)
Development impact fees that pay for regional road projects are way down — only a quarter of what was budgeted through November. It's a signal that construction in western Riverside County has slowed sharply, which could mean less money for future road projects.
Board Member Compensation Increase
Board members haven't had a pay raise since 2008 — $150 a day, capped at $600 a month. The board is leaning toward $200 a day with a formal review policy, but the final vote comes at the May 28 meeting. Supporters say it helps attract diverse candidates; skeptics worry about appearing out of step with partner agencies.
FY27 Budget and Short-Range Transit Plan Adoption
The Commission approved the goals and fiscal policies that will shape next year's budget, keeping spending aligned with the voter-approved Measure A plan. The full budget comes back in May and June.
2026-27 HUD Housing Funding Allocations
The board approved millions in state-funded agreements for rapid rehousing, homeless housing subsidies and affordable apartment loans in Indio and Moreno Valley.
Federal HR 1 Cuts Threaten County Health Safety Net
A resident said the county's bi-weekly calculation of unemployment income is wrongly disqualifying people from Medi-Cal, and she's been denied care and diabetes medication as a result.
Reserve Policy Revisions (A-9 and A-12)
The commission capped its general reserve at $250,000 and cut planned pension/OPEB contributions over the next four years, freeing roughly a couple hundred thousand dollars a year while still hitting its 80% funded target.
Special District Financial Oversight
Commissioner Underwood floated requiring some special districts to report finances to LAFCO annually rather than every five years, citing the Palo Verde healthcare district's sudden collapse after losing its line of credit. Staff noted it already reviews at-risk districts' budgets and audits yearly.
Executive leadership transition at WRCOG
WRCOG's top job is in transition: Christopher Gray is now the interim executive director with a $289,000 agreement, and the deputy executive director got a $15,000 bonus. This shapes who runs the regional agency's day-to-day work for member cities.
Sharp decline in development fee revenue
The fees developers pay to fund habitat conservation are down about 45% this fiscal year because building has slowed across western Riverside County. The board cut revenue projections by $7.6 million but staff says reserves are healthy and current projects are safe — tougher choices may come in future years.
Public Health program fee updates
Ordinance 734.18 updates fees for public health services — mostly adding vaccine vendors for mobile clinics and new lab tests — adopted after a public hearing with no speakers.
FY 2025/2026 Budget Amendment and Staffing Reorganization
WRCOG's budget shrinks to about $22.7 million in revenues, with I-REN spending lagging and TUMF collections down due to slower development. Staff is filling vacant analyst positions, adding an I-REN program manager, and replacing the admin services director with an HR manager and contracts analyst.
Fiscal Year 2024-25 clean audit
An independent auditor gave LAFCO the best possible audit result — an unmodified opinion with no misstatements. Pension and retiree health liabilities barely moved, and reserves are healthy.
Mid-year budget below plan but in surplus
Revenues are running about 5.3% under budget because a major project was resolved and inquiries haven't turned into applications yet, but spending is down too, leaving a projected $12,000 surplus.
Quarterly reporting of CEO-approved contracts
After RTA raised the CEO's contract approval limit from $100,000 to $250,000, the board will now get a quarterly list of contracts approved in that gap — a transparency check on the new spending authority.
Clean state triennial audit
The state's every-three-years audit of RTA came back clean — the agency met all nine compliance requirements for keeping its state transit funding. Auditors suggested three improvements, mostly around analyzing demand-response service costs and reporting data.
Declining TUMF development fee revenues
New development is slowing across western Riverside County, and the fees builders pay for regional roads (TUMF) are coming in at only about a quarter of what was budgeted. The committee cut the TUMF forecast from $30 million to $23 million, which means less money for the regional arterial road program if the trend continues.