Municipal Program

Handbook for Municipalities

The Municipal Program receives 40% of all Safe, Clean Water funding, to be used on infrastructure, maintenance, and more.

Safe, Clean Water Program funding is divided across three divisions: the District Program, Regional Program, and Municipal Program.

The Municipal Program is designed to maximize the ability of local governments to address local stormwater and urban runoff challenges and opportunities. Funding is divided proportionately, based on how much each municipality contributed to the Safe, Clean Water Program.

For example, total estimated revenue for the Municipal Program in 2023-2024 is estimated to be $111.57 million. Roughly $1.9 million would go to the city of Pomona and $390,000 would go to Malibu, each reflecting how much those cities collected for the Program.

It’s up to individual cities to fill out the necessary paperwork and comply with annual audits.

Check out the Handbook for Municipalities for more details.

Annual Plans

Each municipality is required to submit an Annual Plan for the upcoming year’s expenditures. The intent of this plan is to provide a description of projects, programs, and other activities that are funded through the Safe, Clean Water revenue collected for the Municipal Program.

Annual Plans are due April 1st of each year for the upcoming Fiscal Year via the Online Reporting Module. For example, the Annual Plan for FY 21-22 will be due April 1st, 2021, and so forth.

Submitted Annual Plans can be found in the Reporting Repository.

Municipal Transfer Agreements

Each Municipality may receive the portion of their Municipal Program revenue within 45 days after execution of the Transfer Agreement by the District or within 14 days of the District’s receipt of the Annual Plan for 2023-24 Fiscal Year in compliance with Exhibit A, whichever comes later.

Each subsequent year, a single disbursement is expected to be made once the Auditor-Controller has finalized revenues, which is anticipated by the end of August. Disbursements are dependent upon the conditions included in the Transfer Agreement.

For reference, see the Municipal Program Transfer Agreement Template. The District will send individualized Transfer Agreements to each Municipality once ready to execute.

Requirements are detailed in the Transfer Agreement and include:

Each Municipality’s annual expenditure plan for the ensuing Fiscal Year will be due 45 days from execution and then 90 days prior to the end of the County’s Fiscal Year (April 1st) for each subsequent year.
Audit reports, which are due 9 months after the end of the 3rd Fiscal Year. For example: 3/31/24, covering July 2020 through June 2023.
Progress reports are due annually, six months after close of Fiscal Year via the Online Reporting Module.

Annual Reports

Annual Reports are due December 31st of each year for the prior Fiscal Year via the Online Reporting Module. For example, the Annual Report for FY 21-22 was due December 31st, 2022, and so forth.

Municipalities are required to submit Annual Reports to the District within six months of the end of the Fiscal Year. Annual Reports shall detail each municipality’s expenditures and activities for the prior year, and shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

Amount of funds received and breakdown of how the Program payment has been expended
Description of activities that have occurred
Description of Program benefits that have been achieved
Description of gaps between what was planned and what was achieved

Failure to submit Annual Reports may delay disbursements of future Municipal Program Funds. Refer to the above Transfer Agreement, Clause B-30: Withholding of Disbursements and Material Violations.

Submitted Annual Reports can be found in the Reporting Repository.

FAQs

See all FAQs

In 2018, the electorate within the LA County Flood Control District voted to create the Safe, Clean Water Program, which is designed to clean and conserve billions of gallons of stormwater that would otherwise be lost to the ocean when it rains.

The Safe, Clean Water Program also improves the livability and resilience of LA County’s communities through development of green space, recreational opportunities, and other enhancements.

The SCWP strongly promotes regional collaboration, prioritizes investment in underserved communities, and favors projects that take advantage of natural processes to filter, clean, and store water.

Visit our About Us page to learn more about the Safe, Clean Water Program.
The Safe, Clean Water Program funds stormwater initiatives that improve water quality, increase our local water supply, and provide community benefits, like green spaces and parks.

There are actually three core programs within the Safe, Clean Water umbrella:
- The Municipal Program sends money to cities, which can use it to build projects or find other ways to clean and capture stormwater.
- The Regional Program funds regional infrastructure and research (among other things).
- The District Program covers administration, education, and other countywide services.
When it comes to projects, the Safe, Clean Water Program isn’t simply a funder. We provide support to community groups, municipalities, and individuals who have a project idea but need assistance developing their concepts and applications.

You can read more about what we do, including public education, tax assistance, job training, and more, on our What We Do page.
Safe, Clean Water Program funding is allocated across three areas: the Regional Program, the Municipal Program, and the District Program.

The Regional Program receives 50% of all Safe, Clean Water funding, with the majority of that being spent on infrastructure projects and scientific studies across LA County.

The Municipal Program receives 40% of all Safe, Clean Water funding, to be used on infrastructure, maintenance, and more.

Ten percent of the Program’s resources are reserved for the District Program, which covers administration, technical assistance, and countywide initiatives that benefit everyone.
Yes. LA County, local municipalities, and local water agencies have developed high-priority projects to capture and clean stormwater to comply with the Clean Water Act. Unfortunately, many of these projects lack funding. The Safe, Clean Water Program helps to realize these projects and fulfill standards for clean water.
Forty percent of Safe, Clean Water Program revenue is shared back to the cities and municipalities it came from, so local governments can use it to boost their local stormwater initiatives.

The Municipal Program is designed to maximize the ability of local governments to address local stormwater and urban runoff challenges and opportunities. Funding is divided proportionately, based on how much each municipality contributed to the Safe, Clean Water Program.

Learn more.
Estimates of each municipality’s local return, meaning the amount of revenue that will be shared back to each city, can be found under the Municipal Resources. Note that these estimates may vary when tax exemptions, credits, and appeals are applied. To learn more about the Municipal Program and what it funds, please visit the Municipal Program page.