One Voice Legislative Program - 1990

To advocate for or against state and federal legislative projects, programs, and policies that would affect the residents of Merced County.

Merced County has many needs in the areas of transportation, economic development, air and water quality, healthcare, and education, to name a few. In the past, the legislative effort to bring needed funding or policy change at the state and federal levels was sporadic and fragmented.

Beginning in 2004, MCAG initiated the One Voice program, which brings together private and public sector leadership to identify priority issues, projects, and programs. One Voice made its first legislative visits in 2005, and was successful in securing funding for Merced County. In late 2004 and early 2005, legislative consultants, under contract to the County of Merced, provided scheduling and advocacy assistance. In 2005, the MCAG Governing Board agreed to fund 4-6 months of consulting services in both Sacramento and Washington, DC from MCAG member contributions. This expanded MCAG’s ability to learn about and comment on proposed legislation and bond measure issues.

In 2006-07, member jurisdictions funded a full year (12 months) of consultant services in both capital cities, and the designation of a MCAG staff coordinator equivalent to one-third time. The consulting services proved to be of great value in helping MCAG maintain awareness of issues likely to impact areas of interest to member jurisdictions and the One Voice program. For 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10, full year contracts were renewed. For 2010-11 consultant services for federal was renewed for a full 12 months, while the state consultant was renewed for four months.

One Voice Purpose

One Voice unites private and public sector leadership in a voluntary and collaborative effort to identify priority issues, projects, and programs that should be advocated to legislators in Sacramento and Washington, DC. One Voice participants are in agreement that the projects chosen will contribute significantly to an improved quality of life throughout the Merced County region.

One Voice Priority Project Selection Process

The One Voice Steering Committee is comprised of the city and county managers, plus one representative from those public organizations that provide a significant and ongoing monetary contribution to the program. Committee members spend several months discussing issues from a long list of needs in Merced County, selecting 5-8 priorities which, if they were to be funded, would impact, for the better, the quality of life throughout Merced County.

There are many factors that go into consideration of a priority project. Sometimes projects are chosen, not because they are the most critical, but because there is a better opportunity to get funding, depending on the climate in the state and federal capitals. Sometimes a project is chosen because it is a crucial piece in a larger plan. Projects can come from any category, including, but not limited, to Transportation, Economic Development, Water, Education, Law Enforcement, and Health Care.

Previous/Ongoing Work:

One Voice programs from 2004-05 through 2010-11 fiscal years.

Budget and Overall Work Program (OWP)