Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)

As LAFCOs consider proposals for changes of organization, including annexations, detachments, consolidations, incorporations, formations and dissolutions, they must balance the efficient delivery of services with broader community priorities, including growth management and the preservation of natural resources.

Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK) helps its LAFCO and affected agency clients do that with our broad knowledge and experience in these areas.

We began our Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act practice the year the Act was adopted in 1985. Since then we have assisted clients in their compliance with the Act and related public law legislation, have evaluated legislative impacts on them and have helped them to navigate related statutory and regulatory complexities. We currently serve as general and special counsel to LAFCOs throughout California and serve as general counsel to the California Association of LAFCOs. We know how LAFCOs operate enabling us to effectively represent LAFCOs, cities, counties, special districts and other public agency clients on LAFCO-related issues.

Unmatched Experience
BBK offers an insider’s perspective on the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Reorganization Act of 2000 (CKH). We served on task forces for legislative cleanup, for adoption of municipal service review guidelines and for recodification and restatement of the revenue neutrality statute and other CKH incorporation provisions. We routinely assist our LAFCO clients with issues related to sphere of influence updates, plans for services, public finance, Propositions 13 and 218, and municipal service reviews. We regularly advise client on budget adoption and commission procedures.

Comprehensive Service
From CKH compliance through policy adoption and implementation, we provide dynamic solutions to the legal challenges facing our clients. Our comprehensive, cost-effective legal services include: