Information on Sacramento County Multipurpose Districts
Multipurpose districts in Sacramento County consist of County Service Areas (CSA), Community Services Districts (CSD), and Municipal Utility Districts (see SMUD). Each of the three types of districts provides a similar range of services. The primary distinction between the County Service Areas, the Community Services District and Municipal Utility District is their respective type of governance. A County Service Area is a dependent district, governed by the County Board of Supervisors, whereas a Community Services District or Municipal Utility District can be an independent district, governed by its own elected Board of Directors. A more detailed description of the County Service Area and Community Services District follows. For a detailed discussion of the Municipal Utility District, refer to SMUD.
County Service Areas (CSA)
Although CSA’s are multipurpose districts, each of the six County Service Areas in
Sacramento County essentially function as a single purpose district. CSA #1 is a
countywide district that provides street and highway safety lighting services within
Sacramento County and the City of Rancho Cordova. Two of the County Service Areas
provide only park and recreation services. They include CSA #3, which changed its
name to Rio Linda-Elverta Parks and Recreation Area, and CSA #4, which encompasses
three zones: 4-B, which is named Wilton-Cosumnes Parks and Recreation Area; 4-C,
Parks and Recreation - Delta Area; and 4-D, Parks and Recreation - Galt/Herald Area.
CSA #5 was formed in 1992 for the specific purpose of providing extended services,
consisting of street and highway sweeping, road maintenance, soil conservation and
drainage control within the lake-oriented, pedestrian pocket development of Laguna
Creek Ranch/Laguna West Area. CSA #6, formed in 1992, was created to provide
funding for extended paratransit services in Sacramento County. The other County
Service Area (CSA #9, which is inactive) was formed for the purpose of providing sewer
service to the community of Hood. CSA #10 was formed in May 2003 for transportation
services within a portion of the City of Rancho Cordova. CSA # 11 was formed October
2004 for the purpose of extended police protection.
County Service Areas are dependent districts, governed by the the Board of Supervisors.
Government Code Section 25210.1 authorizes County Service Areas to perform all of the
following:
- Extend police protection
- Structural fire protection
- Local park, recreation or parkway facilities and services
- Extended library facilities and services
- Television translator station and services
- Other miscellaneous extended services, which the County is authorized to
perform and which are not already performed by the County on a countywide
basis, such as:
- Water Services
- Pest and Rodent Control
- Street and Highway Sweeping
- Highway Lighting
- Refuse and Garbage Collection
- Ambulance Service
- Area Planning by an Area Planning Commission
- Animal Control
- Services provided by a Municipal Advisory Council
- Road improvement and maintenance, including snow removal
- On-site wastewater disposal (such as septic tank maintenance)
Approximate boundaries for CSA #3, and CSA #4 (Zones B,C and D) are included on the
Park and Recreation Districts map. The location of CSA #9 is shown on the Sanitation
Districts map.
(County Service Areas, Community Services Districts).
Community Services Districts
Sacramento County has three Community Services Districts: San Juan Suburban
Community Services District, Rancho Murieta Community Services District, and
Cosumnes Community Services District.
The San Juan Suburban CSD, established in 1954, provides wholesale and retail water service. The Rancho Murieta CSD, formed in 1982, provides a number of urban services. The Elk Grove Community Services District, formed in 1985, assumed fire protection and park and recreation responsibilities from the former Elk Grove Fire District and Elk Grove Recreation and Park District. In 2006, the Elk Grove Community Services District and the Galt Fire Protection District reorganized to form the Cosumnes Community Services District. All three Community Services Districts have an independent locally elected Board of Directors.
Generally, Community Services Districts are independent districts; governed by a locally-elected Board of five Directors. If so desired, however, a CSD may be dependent, or be combined with a Municipal Advisory Council or Area Planning Commission. A Community Services District can provide the following services:
- Water supply, for consumptive or recreative use
- Sewage, storm water, and solid waste disposal
- Fire protection
- Police protection
- Parks and recreation
- Libraries
- Mosquito abatement
- Street lighting
- Street construction
- Street improvement and maintenance (subject to the consent of the County Board
or City Council)
- Undergrounding of electric and communication lines (subject to the consent of the
affected utility)
- Ambulance service, upon voter approval
- Airports
- On-site wastewater disposal, such as septic tank maintenance
- Other services by special act of the State Legislature
Sacramento County Multi-Purpose District