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About

The mission of the San Benito County Local Agency Formation Commission is to:

  • Encourage the orderly growth of local communities
  • Preserve agricultural lands
  • Discourage urban sprawl
  • Assure efficient local government service

What is LAFCO?

Objectives

The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 states that among the purposes of a Local Agency Formation Commission are:

  1. discouraging urban sprawl, 
  2. preserving open-space and prime agricultural lands, 
  3. efficiently providing governmental services, and 
  4. encouraging the orderly formation and development of local agencies based upon local conditions and circumstances.

Powers & Duties

In meeting its responsibility, LAFCO is required to review and approve or disapprove, with or without amendments, wholly, partially, or conditionally, governmental boundary change proposals consisting of the following:

  • Incorporation of cities
  • Annexation of territory to cities
  • Detachment of territory from cities
  • Disincorporation of cities
  • Consolidation of two or more cities
  • Municipal reorganizations
  • Extending a city’s water or sewer service area without annexation
  • Formation of special districts
  • Annexation of territory to special districts
  • Detachment of territory from special districts
  • Dissolution of special districts
  • Merger of special districts with a city
  • Establishment of a special district as a subsidiary district to a city
  • Consolidation of two or more districts
  • District reorganizations
  • Extending a district’s service area without annexation. (Special districts which come under LAFCO jurisdiction are defined within the Local Government Reorganization Act. School districts, geological hazard abatement districts, and assessment districts are not included within this definition and are not subject to LAFCO review.)

In addition to the regulatory responsibilities of LAFCO referred to above, the Commission is empowered to initiate and make studies of existing governmental agencies. Such studies shall include, but not be limited to, inventorying such agencies and determining their maximum service areas and service capabilities. LAFCO may initiate proceedings to consolidate districts.

Spheres of Influence

In order to carry out its purposes and responsibilities for planning and shaping the logical and orderly development and coordination of local governmental agencies so as to advantageously provide for the present and future needs of the county and its communities, the Local Agency Formation Commission shall develop and determine the sphere of influence of each local governmental agency within the county.

As used in this section, a sphere of influence means a plan for the probable future physical boundaries and service area of a local governmental agency. Among the information considered in determining the sphere of influence of each local government agency, the Commission shall consider:

  • The present and planned land uses in the area, including agricultural and open-space lands.
  • The present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area.
  • The present capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services which the agency provides or is authorized to provide.
  • The existence of any social or economic communities of interest in the area if the Commission determines that they are relevant to the agency. (Government Code Section 56425). 

Service Reviews

Beginning in 2001, the law requires each LAFCO to prepare service reviews of all local governmental services. In addition to informing the sphere of influence update, the purpose of these reviews is to identify opportunities to improve the quality, efficiency, or cost-effectiveness of local services. Service reviews must cover and make determinations regarding the following content:

  • Growth and population projections for the affected area.
  • Present and planned capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services, including infrastructure needs or deficiencies.
  • Financial ability of agencies to provide services.
  • Status of, and opportunities for, shared facilities.
  • Accountability for community service needs, including governmental structure and operational efficiencies.
  • Any other matter related to effective or efficient service delivery as required by Commission policy.