Copyright Sutter County Taxpayers Associations 2011 © SCTA
Content of this site may not be used or reproduced without expressed written consent
Lobby cash. . .
Flood control agency reverses on lobby cash
November 10, 2011 - By Ben van der Meer/Appeal-Democrat
After hearing criticism from a taxpayer group, the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency’s board of directors chose
Wednesday not to spend $10,000 on an effort to get a break for agriculture in flood zone designations – but not because
the initial allotment was wrong, directors said. Rather, contributions by other groups to the effort, for a total of $56,000
to form a coalition to lobby the Federal Emergency Management Agency, made SBFCA’s expenditure unnecessary, said
Sutter County Supervisor James Gallagher. “I believe the decision to expend these assessment funds was a legitimate use
of assessment funds,” Gallagher said, explaining a lobbying effort on FEMA would benefit assessment payers in south
Sutter County.
When the district asked property owners to vote for the assessment last year, he said, they illustrated the issue with two
piles of money: One representing the assessment, the other, larger one representing increased flood insurance premiums.
“People living south of Stewart Road are paying both piles of cash,” Gallagher said, because FEMA has designated the area
as having special flood zone risk. Dave Lamon, who represents Levee District 9 on the board, agreed, pointing out
agencies like SBFCA have to convince agencies the levees are upgraded after the upgrades are finished. The board
approved rescinding the expenditure 10-0, with one member absent. Scott Shapiro, a contract attorney for SBFCA, earlier
told them the effort to form a coalition was aided by $10,000 from the Colusa County Board of Supervisors and an
expected contribution from the Yuba County Water Agency.
Pat Miller, president of the Sutter County Taxpayers Association, said after the meeting she was happy the board had
changed its mind over an expenditure her group felt was out of bounds. “I’m very pleased they listened to what we were
saying,” she said, adding she had no problem with other agencies, such as the counties and farm bureaus, backing the
effort with dollars. “The assessment was passed to fix levees.”
Copyright Sutter County Taxpayers Associations 2011 © SCTA
Content of this site may not be used or reproduced without expressed written consent
Lobby cash. . .
Flood control agency reverses on lobby cash
November 10, 2011 - By Ben van der Meer/Appeal-Democrat
After hearing criticism from a taxpayer group, the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency’s board of directors chose
Wednesday not to spend $10,000 on an effort to get a break for agriculture in flood zone designations – but not because
the initial allotment was wrong, directors said. Rather, contributions by other groups to the effort, for a total of $56,000
to form a coalition to lobby the Federal Emergency Management Agency, made SBFCA’s expenditure unnecessary, said
Sutter County Supervisor James Gallagher. “I believe the decision to expend these assessment funds was a legitimate use
of assessment funds,” Gallagher said, explaining a lobbying effort on FEMA would benefit assessment payers in south
Sutter County.
When the district asked property owners to vote for the assessment last year, he said, they illustrated the issue with two
piles of money: One representing the assessment, the other, larger one representing increased flood insurance premiums.
“People living south of Stewart Road are paying both piles of cash,” Gallagher said, because FEMA has designated the area
as having special flood zone risk. Dave Lamon, who represents Levee District 9 on the board, agreed, pointing out
agencies like SBFCA have to convince agencies the levees are upgraded after the upgrades are finished. The board
approved rescinding the expenditure 10-0, with one member absent. Scott Shapiro, a contract attorney for SBFCA, earlier
told them the effort to form a coalition was aided by $10,000 from the Colusa County Board of Supervisors and an
expected contribution from the Yuba County Water Agency.
Pat Miller, president of the Sutter County Taxpayers Association, said after the meeting she was happy the board had
changed its mind over an expenditure her group felt was out of bounds. “I’m very pleased they listened to what we were
saying,” she said, adding she had no problem with other agencies, such as the counties and farm bureaus, backing the
effort with dollars. “The assessment was passed to fix levees.”
