(Chicago, Illinois)-- Government Finance Officers Association is pleased to announce that Phelan Pinon Hills Community Services District, California, has received GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget.

The award represents a significant achievement by the entity.  It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.  In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation.  These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity's budget serves as:

• a policy document
• a financial plan
• an operations guide
• a communications device

Budget documents must be rated "proficient" in all four categories, and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is grated to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual(s) or department designated as being primarily responsible for having achieved the award.  This has been presented to Finance Department.

There are over 1,600 participants in the Budget Awards Program.  The most recent Budget Award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA's website.  Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

PHELAN, Calif. (January 7, 2021) - Each year, staff is tasked with preparing a budget for consideration at an annual Public Hearing in June.  The process leading up to the hearing includes several public meetings to provide the Board and the public with information for consideration and opportunities for input into the budget process.  These public meetings include workshops, committee, and Board meetings.

Beginning in January, committees review and update their respective Long Range Plans including the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and Maintenance plans.  In February, staff gathers information in preparation for the budget.  February through March, the Board reviews and approves the Long Range Capital Plans and also provides staff with budget assumptions to be used based on the consumer price index and other economic factors.  Considering these guidelines, staff begins the process of preparing a draft budget.

Staff works with department managers and supervisors to obtain budget information and incorporates the data with the assumptions as directed by the Board.  The draft budget is reviewed by management and presented to the Finance Committee for consideration prior to being presented to the full Board.  The Final Draft Budget is made available for review and a public hearing is held in June.  The Final Draft Budget is presented to the Board during the public meeting for final review, consideration, and adoption.  All of these are public meetings and the District encourages public attendance and participation.

The events listed below have been scheduled to promote public participation and ensure the public has the opportunity to become familiar with the budget process.  The Public is invited to ALL of these sessions and is encouraged to attend.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Don Bartz, General Manager
(760) 868-1212

PHELAN, Calif. (March 17, 2020) – On March 16, 2020, out of an abundance of caution due to recent public health concerns and recommendations by the State of California, the Phelan Piñon Hills Community Services District (“District”) has cancelled its Board meeting scheduled for March 18, 2020. As a result, the Public Hearing on the proposed water rate increase has also been cancelled. A new notification will be mailed out and the Public Hearing will be scheduled for May 6, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
 
In addition to the Board meeting and hearing cancellation, the special Finance Committee meeting on March 24, 2020, will be cancelled. Effective March 17, 2020, until April 1, 2020, all District community centers and senior centers will be closed for use and the District office will close to the public. Customers can still call the District office during normal business hours and can still access their accounts online. The District will waive any late fees and will not disconnect customers for nonpayment during this time. Additionally, the $2 credit card convenience fee will be waived for payments made online or over the phone for the remainder of March. A drop box is available for customers in the District parking lot and payments can still be mailed in. New customers will be allowed to set up their accounts by phone and email. Field staff will still be addressing any leaks and proceeding with field operations to continue to provide safe, reliable drinking water to our customers.
 
Don Bartz, the District’s General Manager stated, “District staff has been monitoring the Covid-19/Coronavirus situation. Out of an abundance of caution, the District is taking steps to ensure the safety of the public and our employees during this unprecedented time. The decision to cancel District events and close the District office was not taken lightly. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust our response accordingly.”
 
The following is a list of cancelled events and closures:

• Board Meeting/Public Hearing on March 18, 2020
• Special Finance Committee Meeting on March 24, 2020
• Tri-Community Senior Health Fair
• District Office
• Phelan Community Center
• Phelan Senior Center
• Pinon Hills Community Center
• Pinon Hills Senior Center

 
​As of March 17, 2020, the Farmers Market will continue to operate and the parks will remain open. The District determined it is in the best interest of the public to provide access to fresh produce at this time.
 
“Given the impact of Covid-19 on grocery stores at the moment, we have determined it is in the best interest of our residents to continue to have access to fresh produce and other goods.” Mr. Bartz continued, “Our market is operated outdoors so the exposure risk was determined to be less severe than that of a grocery store. Additionally, we will be enhancing cleaning of equipment and public restrooms.”
 
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For more information, contact PPHCSD staff at 760-868-1212

Media Contact:
Don Bartz, General Manager
(760) 868-1212

PHELAN, Calif. (November 21, 2019) - On November 13, 2019, the Phelan Piñon Hills Community Services District's Board of Directors ("Board") appointed Rebecca Kujawa to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Alex Brandon from the Board.

Director Kujawa, a resident of the area since 2004, was appointed after two seperate candidate interview periods and was sworn in on November 13, 2019.  Director Kujawa is a Special Education Instructional Associate for the Snowline Joint Unified School District and a former credit union employee.  Since 2016, Rebecca has been a member of the Phelan Chamber of Commerce and has been active in community events such as Phelan Phamily Phun Day and Music in the Park.  Director Kujawa was appointed to complete the remainder of the term which will expire in December 2020.

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For further information regarding this matter, please contact District staff at
​ (760) 868-1212.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Don Bartz, General Manager
(760) 868-1212

PHELAN, Calif. (October 3, 2019) - Effective October 1, 2019, the Phelan Piñon Hills Community Services District's Board of Directors has a vacant Board seat with the resignation of Alex Brandon.  The vacant seat will be filled by Board appointment.  Interested candidates must submit a letter of interest and/or resume for Board consideration by 5:00 p.m. on October 25, 2019, to 4176 Warbler Rd. Phelan, CA 92371.

At the October 2, 2019, Board Meeting, the remaining Directors outlined the process to be used in filling the vacated Board seat.  The Board elected to post the Notice of Vacancy in two local newspapers in addition to the legally required postings.  The Notice requests for all interested and qualified candidates to submit a letter of interest and/or a personal resume, and any other materials that s/he wishes the Board to consider, to the District's office located at 4176 Warbler Road, Phelan, California 92371 by 5:00 p.m. on October 25, 2019.  Interviews are tentatively scheduled for November 6, 2019, at a special Board Meeting preceding the regular Board Meeting and, should there be a successful candidate, s/he will be selected and seated at the regular Board Meeting immediately following.  The interview date and appointment date are subject to change depending on the number of candidates applying for the vacancy.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the General Manager of the Phelan Piñon Hills Community Services District ("District") has prepared a proposed final budget for fiscal year 2019/2020, which is available for inspection during regular business hours at the District's headquarters located at 4176 Warbler Road, Phelan, California.

On June 5, 2019 at 6:00 p.m., the District's Board of Directors will hold a public hearing to consider adoption of the final budget for the fiscal year 2019/2020.  The hearing will be conducted during a regular meeting of the District's Board of Directors held at the Phelan Community Center located at 4128 Warbler Road, Phelan, California.  Any person may appear at the meeting and be heard regarding any item in the budget, or regarding the addition of other items.  The hearing on the budget may be continued from time to time.

For more information you may contact District staff at the headquarters address listed above or by telephone at (760) 868-1212 during regular business hours.

To review the 2019/2020 Final Draft budget, please visit the District Office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.,  or download below.