By Eric Johnson
Published Jul 22, 2024

Look! The government is spending our money! (Courtesy 'Atlas Shrugged III,')

Money and Politics: The Good News

Let's get straight down to business. The business of government, that is.

This week Chris Neklason, an admitted government-nerd, delivers parts two and three of a series on how government raises and spends money. It's a project that has fascinated Chris for years—back in 2022, he framed the topic thusly: "The genius of democracy is that when citizens are taxed to fund public services, the citizenry is responsible for providing oversight in the administration of those funds. Participating in that oversight process is certainly in our enlightened self interest."

Belive it or not, the bolgpost containing that statement includes a scene from the fantasy novel Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, hero to tax-hating Libertarians (no disrespect intended).

Here, Chris makes it easier to participate in your governments budgeting process.

Find Out Where Your Money Goes

Democracy really does live in California—do not believe the haters, and read all about it in Jon Vankin's book (see banner ad at the top of this page). To prove it, the State Controllers office makes a handy tool available that allows you to see exactly how your county, town or city raises and spends your tax money. And: Here find a quickish primer on county government funding that will help you make sense of billions of public dollars.

Easy as Pie: California Government Budgets at a Glance

Los Angeles county can get a little grabby at meal times…

Where does all that money come from, and where does it go? It's easy to find out.

Follow the Money: How California Counties Draft Their Annual Budgets

The county budget process is complex, involving a lot of moving parts. And holy cow, a lot of money.

The total combined revenues and expenditures of California's 58 counties are astronomical. And getting astronomicaler every year.

Recipe of the Week

Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.

See more recipes in their Taste Summer! cookbook.

Nectarines and skillet meatballs: Who knew?

This summery recipe can be served with plain rice, as above, or noodles, shape pasta or greens. Garnish with basil.

Summer stone fruit flavors a quick-cooking sauce

From Our Media Allies

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	OV-4’s Olympic Valley Community Wildfire Buffer Project Under Way
	The Olympic Valley Public Service District has launched a wildfire prevention initiative known as the OV-4 Olympic Valley Community Wildfire Buffer Project.

	Homewood to Begin Major Forest Health Project This Summer
	Homewood Mountain Resort is prepping to start its Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project after the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board unanimously approved it earlier this summer.

	Placer County Launches Search and Rescue Operation to Look for Missing 70-Year-Old
	A search and rescue operation is currently underway on the Rubicon trail for 70-year-old missing Jeeper Warren Elliott, according to a Placer County Sheriff Office Facebook post.

	Placer Residents Urged to Verify Internet Offerings to Help Get Improved Broadband for Their Area
	Placer County residents are encouraged to verify whether their current level of broadband service has been accurately identified by the State of California.

	Trail Etiquette Stencil Initiative Expanding to Reduce Multi-Use Trail Conflicts
	Users of the popular multi-use paved trails throughout the Tahoe Basin and Truckee will find new messages stenciled in chalk along the trails encouraging trail etiquette.

	Colfax Approves Grant Application for Traffic Safety
	According to the Safe Streets for All website, the grant program is part of bipartisan infrastructure law that establishes $5 billion in appropriated funds for regional, local and tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries over a five-year …

	Grasshoppers Invading Placer County: What Gardeners Need to Know
	Residents of Placer County, especially in Roseville and Lincoln, have noticed an increase in grasshopper activity this summer. The culprits are short-horned Melanoplus spp. grasshoppers, identifiable by their green or straw-colored bodies.

	Grasshoppers Invading Placer County: What Gardeners Need to Know
	Residents of Placer County, especially in Roseville and Lincoln, have noticed an increase in grasshopper activity this summer. The culprits are short-horned Melanoplus spp. grasshoppers, identifiable by their green or straw-colored bodies.

	Placer County Issues Health Advisory for Carnelian Bay Area Following Sewage Spill
	Placer County has issued a health advisory in the Carnelian Bay area of Lake Tahoe following a sewage spill that reached the lake yesterday evening.

	19th Annual Tahoe Bike Month a Win for Tahoe
	The 19th annual Tahoe Bike Month achieved record-breaking participation this year, according to the organizers.

	Forest Service Update on Basin Wide Trails Analysis Project
	In response to questions from interested community members and stakeholders, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit provided the following update on the Basin Wide Trails Analysis Project.

	OV-1’s North Ridge Shaded Fuel Break Done in Olympic Valley
	California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot came to Olympic Valley recently and highlighted the completion of a 120-acre shaded fuel break along the North Ridge in a post on X.

	Loomis Council Moves on Horseshoe, Taylor Projects
	The Town of Loomis took official steps last week on the road to rebuild the Horseshoe Bar freeway interchange and upgrade Taylor Road.

	Former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs Files to Run for California Lieutenant Governor
	Michael Tubbs, the former mayor of Stockton, will run for lieutenant governor in 2026, according to campaign paperwork filed this week.

	El Dorado Hills School Named a California Honor Roll School
	Jackson Elementary School earns prestigious recognition.

	El Dorado Hills Teachers Earn Certified California Naturalist Status
	The Rescue Union School District recently announced that two of its dedicated staff members, Amy Hadden and Julie Carruth, have successfully earned the title of Certified California Naturalists.

	History and Technical Aspects of the Big Boy Locomotive
	Big Boy, the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, roared through Truckee late last Sunday.

	Train Fans Take Planes, Trains and Automobiles to See World Famous Locomotive in Person.
	When the world’s largest operating steam locomotive known as Big Boy No. 4014 rolled into Roseville last weekend, it was not only a massive public event; for those who are enthralled with trains big and small, this was truly a …

	Loomis Council Moves on Horseshoe, Taylor Improvement Projects
	The Town of Loomis took official steps last week on the road to rebuild the Horseshoe Bar freeway interchange and upgrade Taylor Road.

	Auburn's Fire Inspection Program Touts Education Over Enforcement
	The Auburn City Council had a first reading of its amended Fire Inspection Ordinance last week, taking a step to pivot away from enforcement and enhance education of property owners instead.

	No Harmful Algal Bloom Detected at Lake Tahoe Sites Purported to Be Responsible for Dog’s Death
	The agencies that sampled water at El Dorado Beach and Nevada Beach last week have detected no toxins associated with harmful algal blooms in the lake. These are sites viral social media posts purported could be where a dog ingested …

	Tahoe Fund Hires Local Artists to Transform National Forest Restrooms
	Visitors to four popular recreation sites managed by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will be greeted with a surprise when they step into the restroom facilities. Instead of blank walls inside the vault toilets, people will …

	Forest Restoration and Fuels Reduction Treatment Map Highlights Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team Accomplishments
	In collaboration with the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District announced the Forest Vegetation Interactive Map that highlights forest restoration and fuels reduction treatment accomplishments of the TFFT and the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP).

	Defend Your Space With Fire Guide
	Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team reminds homeowners of the importance of creating and maintaining defensible space. University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program published a new Living With Fire Defensible Space Guide on how to keep resident spaces …

	Candidate Filing Period Opens July 15 in El Dorado County
	Candidate filing for the November 5, 2024, General Election opens on July 15, 2024 and ends August 9, 2024. If an incumbent fails to file then the filing period will be extended to August 14, 2024 for that position only.

	HistoriCorps, Eldorado National Forest Seek Volunteers for Preservation Project
	HistoriCorps and Eldorado National Forest are seeking volunteers of all skill levels to help rehabilitate the historic Bunker Hill Lookout Tower, with week-long volunteer opportunities running from July 28 through September 6.

Recent Local News

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● BIG BLUEgrass Fundraiser Returns

Three bands are featured in the August 3 benefit concert at Sugar Pine Point State Park in Tahoma.

(07/23/2024) South Tahoe Now

● 20th Annual Skate the Lake Benefit a Success

185 participants joined organizers Boarding for Breast Cancer on July 20 and 21, raising $70,000 for breast cancer research.

(07/23/2024) South Tahoe Now

● First Time Visitor to Lake Tahoe?

Alex Silgalis of Lake Tahoe Freshies has a seven-day bucket list to help first-time visitors maximize their Lake Tahoe experience.

(07/23/2024) South Tahoe Now

● Explaining the South Lake Tahoe Defensible Space Ordinance

Answers to your questions about the new ordinance which took effect July 18.

(07/20/2024) South Tahoe Now

● Lake Tahoe Rattled by Earthquakes

Information about the earthquakes centered in Lake Tahoe on July 20.

(07/20/2024) South Tahoe Now

● Workforce Housing Suit Settled

A settlement agreement was reached in the suit filed by Mountain Area Preservation against the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency workforce housing policy.

(07/19/2024) Mountain Democrat

● Georgetown IOOF Roof Secured

The 60 year old metal roof on the historic International Order of Odd Fellows roof was repaired after coming lose over the winter.

(07/18/2024) Georgetown Gazette

● Grasshoppers Invade Latrobe

A plague of grasshoppers have descended upon a 20-acre Latrobe property, part of a growing problem in other parts of the state.

(07/17/2024) Village Life

● Cronan Ranch Land Transfer Considered

The future of a 62 acre parcel of land owned by El Dorado County in the middle of the larger BLM Cronan Ranch Regional Trail System is under discussion by county and BLM officials.

(07/17/2024) Mountain Democrat

● School Supply and Backpack Donations Sought

Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference is seeking donations of school supplies and backpacks for local students.

(07/16/2024) Village Life

Recent Statewide News

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● As Newsom Finishes His Governorship, Would-Be Successors Are Multiplying

There never was much of a chance that California Gov. Gavin Newsom would be running for president this year, even if President Joe Biden were to step aside.

(07/23/2024) CalMatters

● California Forever Pulls Initiative

Following a report released the previous week by Solano County citing billions of dollars in costs and a host of other issues, California Forever pulled their initiative from the November ballot.

(07/23/2024) The Mercury News

● A California Court Just Granted an Ag Giant a Win. It Could Jeopardize New Farm Union Law

A judge has halted a union effort at the Wonderful Company, throwing into question a new state law designed to make it easier for agricultural workers to organize.

(07/19/2024) CalMatters

● California Sent a Mentally Ill Man to a State Hospital. Then It Charged Him $760,000

California State Hospitals can bill patients for the care they receive during confinement. The charges often run in the tens of thousands of dollars, putting vulnerable people in debt for years.

(07/17/2024) CalMatters

● California Says ICE Detainees Have Labor Rights. They Earn $1 a Day Scrubbing Bathrooms

California failed to ban private detention centers. Now, it’s focusing on their working conditions, for immigrants who toil for $1 a day.

(07/17/2024) CalMatters

● CA Cities and Counties Ignoring Mandate to Monitor Homeless Shelters

In 2021, responding to reports that the state’s homeless shelters were dirty and dangerous, the state Legislature crafted a plan: It would require local governments to inspect their shelters after complaints and file annual reports on shelter conditions.

(07/17/2024) CalMatters

● California Passed a Law to Fix Unsafe Homeless Shelters. Cities and Counties Are Ignoring It

The Supreme Court’s decision on homelessness will test a shelter system that’s full of problems – and lacking accountability.

(07/16/2024) CalMatters

● If Californians Vote to Ban Slavery This Fall, Will Prisoners Get a Raise?

California courts have long upheld below-minimum wage pay for prison inmates working a wide range of jobs. A 2024 ballot measure that would ban forced labor could alter those decisions.

(07/16/2024) CalMatters

● Judge Temporarily Blocks State Order to Growers Who Depleted Groundwater

A Kings County judge today issued a temporary restraining order against the state that pauses its unprecedented move to crack down on groundwater depletion in California’s agricultural heartland.

(07/16/2024) CalMatters

● Steve Garvey Outraises Adam Schiff — But Still Has Less in Bank — In U.S. Senate Bid

The Republican hopeful brought in more cash than Democratic rival Adam Schiff for the first time this campaign during the latest quarter, but still has less to spend.

(07/16/2024) CalMatters

Government Announcements

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	Wiers Farm, Inc Expands Voluntary Recall on Whole and Salad Cucumbers Due to Possible Contamination with Listeria
Willard, OH (July 22, 2024) - Out of an abundance of caution, Wiers Farm Inc. of Willard, OH, is expanding its July 12, 2024, recall to include additional produce because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Wiers Farm Inc., in cooperation United States (07/22/2024)

	In Association with Wiers Farm, Inc. and R.S. Hanline Co Inc., ALDI Recalls Jalapenos, Green Peppers and Green Beans Due to a Potential Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
Batavia, Ill. (July 22, 2024) - In cooperation with Wiers Farm, Inc. and R.S. Hanline Co Inc. and out of an abundance of caution, ALDI Inc., ("ALDI") recalls Freshire Farms jalapenos, green peppers and green beans. The affected product from Wiers Farm, Inc. and R.S. Hanline Co Inc is recalled due to United States (07/22/2024)

	Stutz Packing Co. Recalls Walnut Product Because of Possible Health Risk
Stutz Packing Company of Indio, CA is voluntarily recalling it's 1-pound packages of Shelled Walnuts, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others United States (07/19/2024)

	AW Farms Recalls Ready-To-Eat Hot Dog Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2024 - AW Farms, an Argillite, Ky., establishment, is recalling approximately 6,900 pounds of hot dog products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the... United States (07/15/2024)

	Taylor's Sausage, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Landjaeger Sausage Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
WASHINGTON, July 13, 2024 - Taylor's Sausage, Inc., a Cave Junction, Ore., establishment, is recalling approximately 74 pounds of ready-to-eat Landjaeger sausage products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the... United States (07/13/2024)

	AB World Foods US, Inc. Recalls Al'Fez Natural Tahini Because of Possible Health Risk
AB World Foods US, Inc. of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, is voluntarily recalling Al'Fez Natural Tahini in 5.6oz glass jars because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, an United States (07/12/2024)

	Wiers Farm, Inc Issues a Voluntary Recall on Whole and Salad Cucumbers Due to Possible Contamination with Listeria
Out of an abundance of caution, Wiers Farm Inc. of Willard, OH, is voluntarily recalling a limited number of whole cucumbers with a pack date of June 5, 2024 and bagged salad cucumbers with a pack date of June 5, 2024 and June 6, 2024 due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. This p United States (07/12/2024)

	FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Meat and Poultry Products Illegally Imported from the Philippines
WASHINGTON, July 10, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat meat and poultry products that were... United States (07/10/2024)

	Al-Safa US LLC Recalls Frozen Ready-To-Eat Chicken Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
WASHINGTON, July 5, 2024 - Al-Safa US LLC, the importer of record located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, is recalling approximately 2,010 pounds of imported frozen ready-to-eat chicken products that may... United States (07/05/2024)

	Michael Foods Inc. Recalls Fair Meadow Foundations Liquid Egg Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
WASHINGTON, June 30, 2024 - M.G. Waldbaum dba Michael Foods Inc., a Gaylord, Minn. establishment, is recalling approximately 4,620 pounds of liquid egg products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens... United States (06/30/2024)