This week I was honored to join county supervisors from the state’s more rural counties at the annual meeting of Rural County Representatives of California.
Especially in smaller counties‚ the local supervisors are the people who put on the work gloves and get things done for their neighbors. I represent 14 different counties‚ all rural‚ across the 1st Senate District‚ and it’s great to meet in one place to hear about their goals and learn how the state can do a better job supporting them.
This year’s annual meeting included discussions on improving and maintaining healthy rural communities‚ and exploration of how to build better relations between counties and tribes.
Thank you to RCRC and all of the supervisors for their work ensuring rural California’s voice is heard.
Tehama Raises Aspirations for Literacy
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This week Team Dahle joined Expect More Tehama as it launched a new community‑wide effort to improve reading skills among its students.
Strive for 85‚ a three‑year early reading campaign‚ aims to have 85 percent of third‑graders reading at grade level based on tests of “oral reading fluency.” That number currently stands at 45 percent for the county’s students.
Strong and confident reading at the end of third grade is a key step toward succeeding in later years of school‚ where students move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” Tehama County educators have taken hard looks at the outcomes for their students‚ recognized where there is more work to be done‚ and set ambitious goals to better.
I applaud the commitment to raising the aspirations for all students.
Standing with Veterans in Plumas County
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Last Friday and Saturday‚ Team Dahle joined the Plumas County Veterans Stand Down in Quincy‚ sharing information‚ providing resources‚ and spreading the word on how our office can assist when dealing with state departments.
It was a special honor to meet 98‑year‑old Korean War veteran Robert Jennings‚ pictured with members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The Plumas County Veterans Services Office did an outstanding job bringing together state and county resources‚ free haircuts‚ lunch‚ and‚ most importantly‚ support for our veterans. It was a place for veterans to gather and share‚ which is essential.
Thank you to all the organizers‚ volunteers‚ and veterans who came together for this event‚ and to the many veterans who call Senate District 1 home. You are appreciated.
Tax Postponement Available for Eligible Seniors‚ Disabled
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Property tax bills arrive on a regular annual schedule‚ but it doesn’t make the large check easier to write‚ especially for seniors navigating the cost‑of‑living crisis in California.
But there is some relief for eligible homeowners – the Property Tax Postponement Program.
This program allows low‑income seniors‚ as well as blind or disabled homeowners‚ to defer paying their property taxes. The postponement is a loan‚ which will be repaid with interest when the owner moves‚ sells or passes away.
Applications open October 1 and are reviewed on a first‑come‚ first served basis. Limited funds are available‚ so apply early.
For more information and to see eligibility requirements‚ please visit ptp.sco.ca.gov.
UC Merced Opens Fast Track for Shasta Graduates
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Team Dahle joined a signing and celebration event this week with representatives from the University of California Merced and the Shasta Union High School District‚ who sealed an agreement to expand the university’s Merced Automatic Admission Program to students from the Redding‑based district.
Shasta Union joins Fall River Joint Unified School District‚ in eastern Shasta County‚ as North State participants in the program.
The MAAP provides a streamlined application for students who meet the baseline qualifications for the University of California – plus scholarships to lower the cost of tuition.
Merced is the newest campus in the UC system‚ opening in 2005‚ and still building and growing‚ with a particular focus on engineering and sciences and a goal of expanding access to higher education to new regions of the state.
I appreciate the university’s outreach to the North State’s rural schools to encourage students to pursue their dreams of higher education. And I encourage other school districts to explore joining this partnership.
The deadline for students to apply for MAAP is the end of September‚ so coming soon! More information and the application itself are here.
A North State Snapshot
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As my team and I travel the North State‚ sometimes we run across a place so beautiful or so charming that we just have to stop and take a picture.
Sometimes? OK‚ I represent an amazing part of California. It happens all the time.
Sharing this snapshot‚ from Plumas County‚ as a reminder of the wonderful place we call home.