Agency Missing The Train On Sprawl?

"Local Agency Formation Commissions, or LAFCOs, were created in 1963 by the state legislature to help control sprawl, solve disputes between local districts, and to aid in the formation of larger, more efficient governmental districts and agencies. Unfortunately, LAFCOs have been largely ineffective in their charge to check sprawl. The Sacramento County LAFCO has been particularly ineffective at controlling sprawl, as much of the area's growth has occurred in the unincorporated county, which is out of the LAFCO's jurisdiction. Also, as representatives of the county, cities in the area, and special districts, the Sacramento County LAFCO members operate with local interests in mind, and they often fail make decisions with a regional perspective. Governor Gray Davis recently signed a reform bill requiring all agencies represented in a LAFCO to help with funding in order to remove any potential special interest. In addition, the bill encourages the LAFCOs to become more conscious of open space protection and growth management policies. State lawmakers are hopeful that the new bill might make LAFCOs more effective."