A RESOLUTION separating the Sierra County Department of Health and Social Services into two distinct departments: the Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health was approved unanimously during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on May 6th in Downieville. Board Chair Lee Adams stated this was recommended in April and the resolution formalizes it. The board appointed Interim Social Services Director Lori McGee to Director of Social Services and Interim Public Health Director Rhonda Grandi to Director of Public Health. Grandi thanked the board and stated this change will give both departments continuity and stability.
The separation will result in cost savings to both the Public Health and Social Services budgets.
A SPECIAL MEETING for the Plumas County Office of Education and Plumas Unified School District Governing Board was held Monday, April 28th to approve a request for an emergency advance apportionment from the State.
A recent community survey was circulated to gather input on this financial request. County Superintendent Andrea White presented the survey results at this meeting which showed 87.8% attended or reviewed the materials from the April 9th school board meeting. 87.2% agreed that based on what was shared during that meeting it was necessary for the school board to request financial assistance from the state.
Public input was taken from a Greenville Elementary teacher who is also a parent and community member. She and many others have deep concerns over State receivership and Greenville Elementary School. They’ve heard rumors and questioned if it will be closed or will there be an alternative. She also was concerned with logistics if it was closed and students riding the bus an hour one-way to get to school. She felt it was an unreasonable burden and parents need clear answers. She stated the school is the heart of the community and asked what steps will the District take to prioritize the students’ well-being. Funding for extracurricular activities was questioned and why had they not been scaled back instead of the district continuing to foot the bill. In many other districts, funds are raised through fundraising or funded by the parents of students who are in those programs.
Assemblymember Heather Hadwick’s representative from Amador County was present at this meeting to listen and report back to Sacramento. He said they recognize the schools are building blocks of communities and would help where they could and advocate for them. He said in Amador County they are having similar concerns. He stated the two most difficult things in California are water policy and educational finance.
Resolution No. 1678 requesting an emergency advance apportionment was approved unanimously.
The Resolution reads in part: Pursuant to Education Code Section 1240, the PUSD filed a negative certification for both the 2024-25 first and second interim financial reports indicating that it will not be able to meet its financial obligations in the current or subsequent fiscal year.
The Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team published its multiyear financial projection and cash flow projection review on April 6, 2025, projecting a deficit of $8,026,718 in the current 2024-25 fiscal year, a deficit of $8,248,902 in the first subsequent 2025-26 fiscal year, and a deficit of $7,869,128 in the second subsequent 2026-27 fiscal year.
The deficit amounts above result in a projected negative $4,727,146 general fund ending fund balance as of June 30, 2025, a negative $12,976,048 general fund ending fund balance as of June 30, 2026, and a negative $20,845,176 general fund ending fund balance as of June 30, 2027.
The negative fund balances above do not include the three percent standard reserve amount of approximately $1,300,000 for each fiscal year.
The District has exhausted all of its sources of alternative liquidity and any external sources of short-term cash sources.
With this resolution the PCOE and PUSD voluntarily requests the State of California provide emergency advance apportionment, in an amount to be determined but not to exceed twenty million dollars ($20,000,000).
This resolution took effect immediately upon adoption.
NEVADA SIERRA CONNECTING POINT, a public agency that connects people to supportive programs, information and services, gave a presentation during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Downieville on May 6th with regards to 211 Connecting Point.
Program Manager Lindsay Gordon, explained 211 is a free, confidential service that connects people to essential community resources and services and available 24/7. Services range from housing and food assistance, to health care and disaster relief. 211 is operated by trained specialists who provide personalized assistance and act as a critical lifeline for those in crisis.
To access, dial 211 from any phone within the caller’s county of residence and can be reached by text by sending your zip code to 898-211.
On average they handle 45,000 calls annually with an average wait time of 1.37 minutes.
Tim Giuliani, Executive Director stated they are the community call center and can adapt to what is needed.
Board Chair Lee Adams asked what the cost would be to have 211 in Sierra County. Giuliani said $8,000 was the baseline cost. Supervisor Sharon Dryden thought there might be some funding available through OES or they could partner with other agencies to help with the costs. She felt this was a benefit for the senior community. The board will make a decision in a couple weeks and discuss how it may be tailored to Sierra County.
SPEED ZONES were again discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Downieville on May 6th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey reported a speed zone map for Loyalton has just been released. Caltrans is going to be reducing the distance of 25mph in town to start at Taylor Street instead of Hill Street and changing zones at both ends of town from enforceable to a transitional speed zone. This will be talked about more next meeting in Loyalton on May 20th.
Davey stated they received the final speed zone recommendation for Sierra City and Caltrans is moving forward with the changes they had originally presented. He had a recent meeting with Caltrans and they walked through Sierra City. Davey stated Caltrans will do some counter measures to help reduce speed to combat raising the speed limit. They will put wide speed bumps at both ends of town, wide painting to narrow the lanes, paint “keep clear” in eight-foot letters in front of the fire department and will put in some cross walks. Davey said they are also continuing discussions on pedestrian issues in town.
Nichole Johnson, Editor
Sierra Booster Newsp
The separation will result in cost savings to both the Public Health and Social Services budgets.
A SPECIAL MEETING for the Plumas County Office of Education and Plumas Unified School District Governing Board was held Monday, April 28th to approve a request for an emergency advance apportionment from the State.
A recent community survey was circulated to gather input on this financial request. County Superintendent Andrea White presented the survey results at this meeting which showed 87.8% attended or reviewed the materials from the April 9th school board meeting. 87.2% agreed that based on what was shared during that meeting it was necessary for the school board to request financial assistance from the state.
Public input was taken from a Greenville Elementary teacher who is also a parent and community member. She and many others have deep concerns over State receivership and Greenville Elementary School. They’ve heard rumors and questioned if it will be closed or will there be an alternative. She also was concerned with logistics if it was closed and students riding the bus an hour one-way to get to school. She felt it was an unreasonable burden and parents need clear answers. She stated the school is the heart of the community and asked what steps will the District take to prioritize the students’ well-being. Funding for extracurricular activities was questioned and why had they not been scaled back instead of the district continuing to foot the bill. In many other districts, funds are raised through fundraising or funded by the parents of students who are in those programs.
Assemblymember Heather Hadwick’s representative from Amador County was present at this meeting to listen and report back to Sacramento. He said they recognize the schools are building blocks of communities and would help where they could and advocate for them. He said in Amador County they are having similar concerns. He stated the two most difficult things in California are water policy and educational finance.
Resolution No. 1678 requesting an emergency advance apportionment was approved unanimously.
The Resolution reads in part: Pursuant to Education Code Section 1240, the PUSD filed a negative certification for both the 2024-25 first and second interim financial reports indicating that it will not be able to meet its financial obligations in the current or subsequent fiscal year.
The Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team published its multiyear financial projection and cash flow projection review on April 6, 2025, projecting a deficit of $8,026,718 in the current 2024-25 fiscal year, a deficit of $8,248,902 in the first subsequent 2025-26 fiscal year, and a deficit of $7,869,128 in the second subsequent 2026-27 fiscal year.
The deficit amounts above result in a projected negative $4,727,146 general fund ending fund balance as of June 30, 2025, a negative $12,976,048 general fund ending fund balance as of June 30, 2026, and a negative $20,845,176 general fund ending fund balance as of June 30, 2027.
The negative fund balances above do not include the three percent standard reserve amount of approximately $1,300,000 for each fiscal year.
The District has exhausted all of its sources of alternative liquidity and any external sources of short-term cash sources.
With this resolution the PCOE and PUSD voluntarily requests the State of California provide emergency advance apportionment, in an amount to be determined but not to exceed twenty million dollars ($20,000,000).
This resolution took effect immediately upon adoption.
NEVADA SIERRA CONNECTING POINT, a public agency that connects people to supportive programs, information and services, gave a presentation during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Downieville on May 6th with regards to 211 Connecting Point.
Program Manager Lindsay Gordon, explained 211 is a free, confidential service that connects people to essential community resources and services and available 24/7. Services range from housing and food assistance, to health care and disaster relief. 211 is operated by trained specialists who provide personalized assistance and act as a critical lifeline for those in crisis.
To access, dial 211 from any phone within the caller’s county of residence and can be reached by text by sending your zip code to 898-211.
On average they handle 45,000 calls annually with an average wait time of 1.37 minutes.
Tim Giuliani, Executive Director stated they are the community call center and can adapt to what is needed.
Board Chair Lee Adams asked what the cost would be to have 211 in Sierra County. Giuliani said $8,000 was the baseline cost. Supervisor Sharon Dryden thought there might be some funding available through OES or they could partner with other agencies to help with the costs. She felt this was a benefit for the senior community. The board will make a decision in a couple weeks and discuss how it may be tailored to Sierra County.
SPEED ZONES were again discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Downieville on May 6th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey reported a speed zone map for Loyalton has just been released. Caltrans is going to be reducing the distance of 25mph in town to start at Taylor Street instead of Hill Street and changing zones at both ends of town from enforceable to a transitional speed zone. This will be talked about more next meeting in Loyalton on May 20th.
Davey stated they received the final speed zone recommendation for Sierra City and Caltrans is moving forward with the changes they had originally presented. He had a recent meeting with Caltrans and they walked through Sierra City. Davey stated Caltrans will do some counter measures to help reduce speed to combat raising the speed limit. They will put wide speed bumps at both ends of town, wide painting to narrow the lanes, paint “keep clear” in eight-foot letters in front of the fire department and will put in some cross walks. Davey said they are also continuing discussions on pedestrian issues in town.
Nichole Johnson, Editor
Sierra Booster Newsp
