Riverside County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Riverside County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cross-agency fare pass acceptance
A rider reported that RTA drivers have refused Corona Cruiser passes at transfer points like Corona Transit Center — and possibly Monitrans passes too. Staff committed to retraining drivers so transfers between agencies work as they should.