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Excerpt from “What’s So Special About Special Districts? A Citizen Guide to Special Districts in California,” Third Edition, February 2002
What is a special district?
State law defines a special district as “any agency of the state for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions within limited boundaries” (Government Code Section 16271{d}). In plain language, a special district is a separate local government that delivers public services to a particular area. Special districts can be distinguished by their four common characteristics:
- A form of government
- Governed by a Board
- Provides services and facilities
- Has defined boundaries
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