Welcome to October!

Fall is officially here, and while we may still be feeling the lingering summer heat, it’s time to start thinking about preparing our homes for the cooler months ahead. As you begin to swap out your summer wardrobe for cozy sweaters, don’t forget to take a moment to clean out those gutters and check your roof for any potential leaks. 

I want to provide an update on the recent Granite Bay roundabout study. We heard you loud and clear! Over 50% of residents voiced their opinions against adding a roundabout to our community. With such a strong sentiment, we have decided not seek proposals for a roundabout. Our priority is always the safety and satisfaction of our residents. While we won’t be pursuing the roundabout option, we will continue strict speed limit enforcement in these areas, with 24/7 monitoring to help ensure the safety of our roadways. Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate and share your feedback!

September was a fantastic month for community connection. We had a wonderful time at our Coffee with First Responders event, where we had the chance to talk about fire safety, fire insurance issues facing our community, and traffic concerns along Douglas Boulevard and Auburn-Folsom Road. We were also fortunate to have reports from both the California Highway Patrol and our local Sheriff’s Office, who shared their insights on how to address speeding and traffic safety.

A special highlight was the visit from our District Attorney, Morgan Gire. He discussed the challenges of policing organized crime and the critical issue of fentanyl affecting our region. It was an eye-opening discussion, and I’m grateful to our first responders and law enforcement officials who are dedicated to keeping our community safe. A huge thank you to Al Gonzalez for capturing such wonderful moments from this event (see the photo below)!

Furthermore, in regard to fire insurance, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution asking the governor to declare a state of emergency for homeowners and commercial property insurance. 

In a letter sharing the resolution with the governor and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the board called for the state to “take immediate emergency regulatory and legislative action to strengthen and stabilize California’s marketplace for homeowners' insurance and commercial property insurance.” 

While the state has taken recent action to help stabilize the insurance market, we recognize that too many of us are still facing dire insurance affordability challenges, and through this resolution the board has urged them to take more action sooner than those changes are expected to provide relief. Stay tuned. 

Remember to stay safe on the roads as the sun begins to set earlier, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office with any concerns, ideas, or questions you may have. Your voices make our community stronger, and I appreciate each and every one of you for staying engaged and involved.

Warm regards,
Suzanne Jones
Placer County Supervisor, District 4

Another significant boost to broadband connectivity is headed for Placer County’s rural communities.

The county has been awarded a grant of $23,752,674 from the California Public Utilities Commission to expand broadband services along the Interstate 80 corridor, spanning the communities of Applegate, Colfax, Cape Horn, Magra and Alta.

The county Board of Supervisors took action at its meeting in Auburn yesterday to accept the grant.

“The CPUC grant will play a pivotal role in expanding broadband infrastructure and closing the digital divide in Placer County,” said Placer County Chief Information Officer Jarrett Thiessen. “This investment will not only enhance economic opportunities but also improve access to education, healthcare and essential services for residents in these underserved areas.”

The project will bring reliable broadband services to approximately 3,825 additional rural households and businesses.

Placer County's commitment to bridging the digital divide is evident in its Broadband Equity Program, launched by the IT Department in 2020. 

This initiative aims to provide broadband access to over 17,000 underserved homes and businesses in rural areas. 

To date, the program has tackled broadband access in three phases.

• Phase 1: Enhanced broadband services for 1,500 households in Auburn (Edgehill), North Auburn (Christian Valley) and Penryn.
• Phase 2: Extended to an additional 638 households and businesses in Penryn.
• Phase 3: Connecting 11,000 homes in Sheridan, Newcastle, Loomis, South Auburn, North Auburn, Meadow Vista and Folsom Lake Estates.

The grant funding for these projects develops and improves infrastructure in underserved communities so that residents have better options to purchase broadband for themselves.

Project details and area maps are available online at: https://www.placer.ca.gov/7557/Broadband. 

Community volunteers needed for tax assistance program

Want to give back to the community in the new year? Placer County’s Free Tax Prep program (also known as VITA) is currently seeking volunteers for the 2025 tax season.

The program, operating in conjunction with United Way and the IRS, offers free tax preparation assistance to low income individuals and families in Placer County.

Program volunteers work one-on-one with clients to help them file taxes and maximize refunds. Beyond tax preparation, volunteers can also serve as greeters or quality reviewers. Volunteers have the option to serve at either in-person or virtual sites, during the following windows in early 2025:

Drop off by appointments:

Rocklin: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3 :00 p.m.

Lincoln: Mondays 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Auburn: Wednesdays – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Roseville: Monday & Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Pop up events in Colfax, Foresthill, and more locations to be scheduled

No prior experience is needed to volunteer, as training is provided beginning January 8. Coordinators will also be available to assist volunteers with any questions.

Last year, the program generated $377,357 in state and federal refunds for more than 280 Placer County families. 

“This is a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to gain hands-on experience in customer service and financial management while seeing the impact of your work firsthand,” said Human Services Director Greg Geisler.

Email HumanServicesOutreach@placer.ca.gov or call 530-889-7689 to sign up or for additional questions

Placer County is expanding its Family Self Sufficiency program

Enabling more low-income households to access financial coaching, case management and other support services designed to build self-sufficiency. This voluntary 5-year program, which serves families in subsidized housing, now has the capacity to support 25 families at a time — up from just a handful thanks to a newly-received grant.

"This program is about helping families achieve economic independence and reducing their reliance on government subsidies," said Janelle Martinez, the program supervisor over Placer County’s Housing Authority. "By expanding our capacity, we're able to provide even more residents with the tools they need to increase their earned income, save for their future, and ultimately, achieve their personal goals."

Watch a video about a client in the FSS program here.

Placer County first launched the FSS program in 2021, inspired by a similar program for Roseville residents operated by the city’s separate Housing Authority. At the time it launched, though, the county wasn’t funded through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which prioritizes existing FSS programs before allocating any remaining funding to new applicants via lottery. As a result, only a handful of Placer families could be served.

Recently, though, Placer finally succeeded in HUD’s lottery and received a $130,000 grant, which will renew annually to fund a full-time coordinator position. The program is open to families receiving housing vouchers from the Placer County Housing Authority.

During their five years in the Family Self Sufficiency program, participating families work with a case manager to set and achieve goals aimed at improving their financial situation. Supports can include access to job training, childcare, transportation and other resources necessary for self-sufficiency.

A unique feature of the program is the escrow savings account. FSS encourages participants to increase their earnings through employment. As their income rises, their rent contributions also increase as voucher recipients pay 30% of their income towards rent; however, the difference between the old and new rent is deposited into a personal escrow account. This allows families to save money while transitioning to greater financial independence.

Upon graduating from the five-year program, participants can use their escrow savings to make significant financial decisions, such as buying a car, putting a down payment on a home, or paying for education. Interim disbursements of escrow funds during the five years can also be possible, if needed to reach a client’s goals.

“It’s win-win,” said Katie, a program participant for the last year who lives in Lincoln. “I'm able to have that peace of mind to know that I'm saving money and we're going to have a home one day.”

"We’re excited about the potential this grant unlocks," said Human Services Director Greg Geisler. "We’ve already seen families benefit from the program, and this expansion will allow us to help even more households achieve long-term stability."